Last Friday, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced a new policy for immigration courts that requires judges to go through more cases in a day than they are currently. The new quota requiring judges to complete 700 cases a year is a direct threat to due process and fundamental fairness because immigrants facing deportation, including those seeking asylum in the immigration courts, will have less time to get a lawyer and immigration judges will be unnecessarily rushed in the consideration and adjudication of each case. This is clearly a violation of due process. Read more here.
deportation
Thought's From Tucson's Police Chief /
President Trump's distaste for immigrants is no secret, and he only continues to become harsher with the help of Senator Jeff Sessions. While he argues that immigrants are dangerous and causing crime, Tucson's police chief has quite a different opinion. Because of the great amount of anti-immigrant sentiment that is plaguing the United States currently, immigrants feel less and less safe and trusting of the government and law enforcement, causing them to become more secretive for fear of deportation. We need to build trust and positive rhetoric with immigrants rather than alienating them and treated them as outsiders, because they are not. Read the police chief's piece here.
Frightening Result of Immigration Crackdowns /
Due to Trump's harsh stance on immigration, undocumented immigrants who are victims of domestic and sexual abuse are afraid to come forward because they fear they or their relatives will be deported if they report the crime. In fact, since Trump has taken office, the amount of domestic and sexual abuse reports in latino neighborhoods has decreased substantially, and these crimes are already under-reported. This is a clear human right violation, and people should not have to live with abuse for fear of deportation, the two should be completely unrelated. The United States needs to make it clear that those who are being abused should not be afraid to come forward. Read the full article here.
Timothy R. Bakken
Founder
Countering DACA Myths /
Save DACA! DACA does not threaten U.S. citizens’ jobs, does not grant citizenship or lawful permanent resident status, and ending DACA will expose Dreamers and their families to deportation. The New York Times explains why common critiques of DACA are misleading here.
Timothy R. Bakken
Founder
DACA's Uncertain Future /
The future of DACA is more uncertain than ever, as many DACA recipients and supporters worry that Trump is working to end the program and deport everyone who was previously protected. The constitutionality of DACA is being questioned by numerous state attorneys general, which could help Trump’s case. Although there have been no public statements from the White House regarding the status of DACA recently, the uncertainty is what is most concerning for those who have grown up in the United States and consider it their home.
Timothy R. Bakken
Founder
Immigrants in Military at Risk of Deportation? /
In keeping with its pattern of scapegoating immigrants, the Trump government is now considering plans to discriminate against immigrants who are, and will be, putting their lives on the line to protect America. As explained by the Washington Post in this article, over 4000 naturalized U.S. citizens currently serving in the military may face “enhanced screening”. In addition, the Pentagon is considered canceling signed enlistment contracts of 1000 foreign born undocumented recruits with essential language and medical skills and training, thus exposing these heroic individuals to deportation.
Timothy R. Bakken
Founder