To: The United States House of Representatives, The United States Senate, and President Donald Trump
Fight William Barr's immigration reversal
Last Tuesday, Attorney General William Barr issued an order that reverses current immigration policy. This order directs immigration judges to deny migrants a chance to post bail. This would affect adult asylum seekers traveling alone who enter this country at a place other than an established port of entry from being allowed a bond hearing regardless of whether or not they pass a credible fear interview.
This order, expected to go into effect in 90 days allowing ICE time to increase bed space, will unilaterally expand mass incarceration. Forcing thousands of people to languish in public and private detention facilities is a design to cause asylum seekers to give up hope and return to the very situations from which they flee.
Why is this important?
Last Tuesday, Attorney General William Barr issued an order that reverses current immigration policy. This order directs immigration judges to deny migrants a chance to post bail. This would affect adult asylum seekers traveling alone who enter this country at a place other than an established port of entry from being allowed a bond hearing regardless of whether or not they pass a credible fear interview.
This order, expected to go into effect in 90 days allowing ICE time to increase bed space, will unilaterally expand mass incarceration. Forcing thousands of people to languish in public and private detention facilities is a design to cause asylum seekers to give up hope and return to the very situations from which they flee. Such a ruling flies in the face of the 1951 Refugee Convention that prohibits the penalizing of asylum seekers based on their manner of entry.