To: The United States Senate
Senators: Guarantee access to legal counsel for those detained while entering the U.S.
Senators, restore common decency by supporting legislation that guarantees those detained while entering the U.S. access to legal counsel, and which mandates an expedited process and necessary access to food, water, and restroom facilities.
Why is this important?
Donald Trump's Muslim ban has been rightly blocked by several courts throughout the country, yet another version of the Muslim ban could be released as early as this week. [1]
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.
Senator Kamala Harris, along with several of her 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). [2]
It is time for the Senate to affirm the civil liberties we hold dear and restore common human decency by supporting this bill.
Sources:
1. "Donald Trump's Revised Travel Ban Would Cover Seven Countries From Prior Order," The Washington Post, February 18, 2017
https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-weighs-travel-ban-that-allows-in-green-card-holders-ensures-those-in-transit-aren-t-caught-in-system-1487438347
2. "Sen. Kamala Harris pushes to guarantee access to legal counsel for those detained upon entry to the U.S.," The L.A. Times, February 9, 2017
http://www.latimes.com/politics/essential/la-pol-ca-essential-politics-updates-sen-kamala-harris-pushes-for-right-to-1486678257-htmlstory.html
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.
Senator Kamala Harris, along with several of her 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). [2]
It is time for the Senate to affirm the civil liberties we hold dear and restore common human decency by supporting this bill.
Sources:
1. "Donald Trump's Revised Travel Ban Would Cover Seven Countries From Prior Order," The Washington Post, February 18, 2017
https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-weighs-travel-ban-that-allows-in-green-card-holders-ensures-those-in-transit-aren-t-caught-in-system-1487438347
2. "Sen. Kamala Harris pushes to guarantee access to legal counsel for those detained upon entry to the U.S.," The L.A. Times, February 9, 2017
http://www.latimes.com/politics/essential/la-pol-ca-essential-politics-updates-sen-kamala-harris-pushes-for-right-to-1486678257-htmlstory.html