Immigration

Five years ago, the backlog was about 344,000 cases -- about half today’s amount. It grew, in part, with a rise in Central Americans coming across the border in the last few years. Most were given the opportunity to argue before an immigration judge about why they should stay in the U.S. … [Read more...] about Immigration judges, attorneys worry that Sessions’ quotas will cut into justice in clogged court system

"The contradictions are real," he said. "Farther north, people just don't get it. They don't know. They have no idea. [They say] 'Let's kick them all out.' 'Let's all Kumbaya.' But that someone is also saying someone has to do the laundry, care for my children and cut my grass." … [Read more...] about ‘Farther north, people just don’t get it’: Feelings about Trump and immigrants on the Mexico border aren’t simple

Crossing the border illegally is a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail. But previously the Justice Department rarely targeted family units — as the Border Patrol describes parents who cross with their children — for prosecution. Instead, authorities typically routed migrant families to immigration courts, and they were often released from detention after three weeks because of a court order limiting how long undocumented children may remain locked up. People with credible fear of being returned to their native countries were likewise often sent to immigration court instead of being criminally prosecuted. … [Read more...] about Trump Administration To Divide Immigrant Families To Prosecute Parents For Illegal Entry

The other option for GOP leaders is to simply ignore the Freedom Caucus demands and press ahead, hoping that adoption of some individual amendments could be enough to win over just enough Republicans. Plus, the farm bill isn’t exactly must-pass legislation. Congress could end up doing a one-year extension of existing programs, which might happen regardless of whether the House passes the farm bill if the Senate doesn’t take up the measure. … [Read more...] about Conservatives Cook Up Farm Bill Gambit to Get Vote On Hardline Immigration Bill

This is as horrific a policy as I’ve seen in 25-plus years doing civil rights work. Lee Gelerent, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union’s Immigrant Rights Project The ORR has already come under scrutiny from some members of Congress, particularly after it was revealed that it released several minors in 2014 to sponsors who ended up being traffickers. HHS and the Department of Homeland Security were supposed to have a joint plan for dealing with unaccompanied minors by February 2017 but failed to meet their deadline. The agencies told the Senate’s permanent subcommittee on investigations last month that they would complete their plan by July 30, according to the office of Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio), who chairs the subcommittee and has pressed for quicker action. … [Read more...] about Trump’s Crackdown On Immigrant Parents Puts More Kids In An Already Strained System