To: The United States House of Representatives and The United States Senate
Congress: Guarantee access to legal counsel for those detained while entering the U.S.
Restore common decency by supporting legislation that guarantees access to legal counsel to those held while entering the U.S., mandates an expedited process, and assures access to food, water, and restroom facilities.
Why is this important?
Donald Trump just announced his new Muslim ban. And it's only slightly different from the last one. People from six majority-Muslim countries are being blocked from getting visas to the United States, and the refugee program is still being suspended.
The chaos that ensued at borders when the initial ban was implemented showed a complete breakdown of civil liberties and common human decency. People were denied access to their legal counsel, mothers were separated from their infant children, and people were kept at the airport for dozens of hours without access to any food or facilities.
In addition to people vigilantly opposing the Muslim ban in the courts and in the streets, Congress has the ability to restore basic decency and undermine Trump's new Muslim ban. I, along with several of my colleagues, just introduced legislation that seeks to reverse some of the more heinous acts happening at our borders due to Trump’s policies. The legislation would guarantee access to legal counsel, require access to an attorney before they can relinquish their legal status, and have basic needs met while being held (like being able to use the restroom). There is similar legislation in the Senate that is being pushed by Sen. Harris.
It is time for those of us in Congress to affirm the civil liberties we hold dear and restore common human decency by supporting this bill.
The chaos that ensued at borders when the initial ban was implemented showed a complete breakdown of civil liberties and common human decency. People were denied access to their legal counsel, mothers were separated from their infant children, and people were kept at the airport for dozens of hours without access to any food or facilities.
In addition to people vigilantly opposing the Muslim ban in the courts and in the streets, Congress has the ability to restore basic decency and undermine Trump's new Muslim ban. I, along with several of my colleagues, just introduced legislation that seeks to reverse some of the more heinous acts happening at our borders due to Trump’s policies. The legislation would guarantee access to legal counsel, require access to an attorney before they can relinquish their legal status, and have basic needs met while being held (like being able to use the restroom). There is similar legislation in the Senate that is being pushed by Sen. Harris.
It is time for those of us in Congress to affirm the civil liberties we hold dear and restore common human decency by supporting this bill.