A new series in which we (will aspire to) offer a sampling of today’s headlines on immigration, race, and related stories.
August 20, 2018
An article in The Hill discusses the impact of Attorney General Session’s recent decisions to reopen 8,000 immigration cases, which had been administratively closed, on judicial independence.
ICE, ICE Baby: Trump is planning an event to celebrate the “heroes” of Immigration Customs Enforcement amidst growing calls for the agency to be dismantled by some Democrats.
Highlighting the political dog-whistling underneath this celebration, hard-line immigration sheriff Richard Jones, of Butler County, Ohio has been invited as well - Butler once sent a bill to Mexico for immigration enforcement costs.
Meanwhile, some of the “heroes” of ICE, detained a man while he was driving his pregnant wife to the hospital. The detention was caught on video. Maria del Carmen was left to fend for herself. ICE later claimed the man was wanted in Mexico on homicide charges, but released no details. Arrona has been in the United States for over 10 years.
A new study shows that the lack of Congressional action on immigration reform is creating a host of state and local initiatives that are undermining federal authority.
Relatedly, Gaurav Madan, a volunteer with Sanctuary DMV, writes in the Washington Post that, in light of recent ICE enforcement actions, the District of Columbia needs to step up its commitment to being a sanctuary city and push back against the narrative of criminality that is cast upon immigrants. Local organizers sent a letter to the mayor demanding a public hearing of the steps the city was going to take.