A new series in which we (will aspire to) offer a sampling of today’s headlines on immigration, race, and related stories.
August 17, 2018:
More than 9,000 families apprehended at the border last month despite Trump’s attempted “deterrents.”
A lengthy but informative piece from Sojourners on Central American asylum seekers.
Judge Sabraw of the Southern District of California halts family deportations indefinitely and hints at a court order allowing children to pursue asylum claims independent of their parents.
Federal lawsuit moves forward against ICE agent who forged a long-time resident’s signature on a voluntary deportation form, an act described by federal appeals court this week as an “egregious constitutional violation.”
AG Sessions tries to limit judicial discretion in order to speed up deportation process.
ICE lawyers reactivating previously closed deportation cases at twice the rate under Trump as under Obama.
ACLU and DOJ nearing agreement on plan to reunite families.
ACLU responds to Customs and Border Protection commissioner Kevin McAleenan’s recent interview with NYT – it’s all about PR.
SDNY judge rules that head of DOJ’s Civil Rights Division must testify under oath in lawsuit challenging 2020 census citizenship question.
Court battle continues in Michigan over FOIA filings asking that University of Michigan allow access to 10 boxes of John Tanton’s archives. Tanton is founder of the Center for Immigration Studies and a life-long anti-immigration activist.
Bipartisan Senate committee releases a report on the “oversight of the care of unaccompanied alien children” by Health and Human Services, stating that HHS and DHS “still do not take sufficient responsibility for guarding their safety and ensuring they appear at their immigration court proceedings.” But HHS’s Jonathan White says the agencies are not responsible for keeping tabs on kids once released to sponsors.
A poll of independent voters shows that, more than any other topic, independents see immigration as a partisan issue and the defining characteristic of GOP and Dems, viewing Democratic party as pro-immigration by a 62 point spread.
And, finally...
Of course they are: White House planning a special event: “Salute to the Heroes of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs [sic] Border Protection” to be held in the East Room on August 20.
Of course they do: Center for Immigration Studies applauds the planned event.