Rachel McGonagill Profile picture
Terminal Velocity w/CHF, still a rabblerouser, unabashed liberal, unexpected asylum wonk, Bipolar #FightLikeAMother Don't suffer fools, gladly or otherwise

Apr 19, 2019, 51 tweets

Following AG Barr’s decision to unilaterally disallow bail hearings for any asylum seekers, many folks admitted they do not grok the difference between immigration courts and our real justice system.

Information is the devil's mistress, so let's do this!

First, there is a difference between immigration courts and our actual real justice system. The justice system that everyone generally thinks of, with local county courthouses, district, circuit courts, all the way up to SCOTUS: that's a whole branch of government unto itself.

@ifindkarma @matt_cam @TrinityResists @AdamaEsq @axidentaliberal @jomareewade @ImmJusticeNOW @BryanDawsonUSA @brycetache @nycsouthpaw Immigration Courts, however, are a different breed. They're under the aegis of the Executive Branch, specifically part of the Department of Justice, and the AG is the Boss. ICs used to be part of INS, but a few years back, they were moved to DoJ in a hope for more impartiality.

@ifindkarma @matt_cam @TrinityResists @AdamaEsq @axidentaliberal @jomareewade @ImmJusticeNOW @BryanDawsonUSA @brycetache @nycsouthpaw @LiteraryMouse @MamaMayham @BABS5683 @TheLoyalO @LunaLuvgood2020 @ManInTheHoody @AdamParkhomenko @HriSherryb That worked out great. *biggest eyeroll in the universe*

In fact, immigration lawyer @matt_cam had this to say about the Immigration Court system, in which he works on behalf of his clients everyday:

@ifindkarma @matt_cam @TrinityResists @AdamaEsq @axidentaliberal @jomareewade @ImmJusticeNOW @BryanDawsonUSA @brycetache @nycsouthpaw @LiteraryMouse @MamaMayham @BABS5683 @TheLoyalO @LunaLuvgood2020 @ManInTheHoody @AdamParkhomenko @HriSherryb The problems w/Immigration Courts being part of DoJ are legion.

The American Bar Association (ABA) reported in 2010, w/an update just recently, the disaster our immigration courts have become.

2010 Report: americanbar.org/content/dam/ab…

2019 Report: americanbar.org/content/dam/ab…

@ifindkarma @matt_cam @TrinityResists @AdamaEsq @axidentaliberal @jomareewade @ImmJusticeNOW @BryanDawsonUSA @brycetache @nycsouthpaw @LiteraryMouse @MamaMayham @BABS5683 @TheLoyalO @LunaLuvgood2020 @ManInTheHoody @AdamParkhomenko @HriSherryb BIG PROBLEM #1: Immigration JUDGES are not independent because immigration courts are not.
IJs work for the AG.

They're hired by him, often used to work for DoJ/ICE.

Let that sink in.

The judges making decisions about asylum cases WORK FOR the guy making asylum claims harder.

@ifindkarma @matt_cam @TrinityResists @AdamaEsq @axidentaliberal @jomareewade @ImmJusticeNOW @BryanDawsonUSA @brycetache @nycsouthpaw @LiteraryMouse @MamaMayham @BABS5683 @TheLoyalO @LunaLuvgood2020 @ManInTheHoody @AdamParkhomenko @HriSherryb @DanaScottlo @funder @ScottHech @SusanBChurch11 @JainaResists @Augustus709 @mle_goldman @JynErso_Patriot @Norberta36 @lfkraus .@matt_cam had a great thread about this in 2017, when AG Sessions was appointing new IJs like woah. Around 100 in 6 months. Bias, ideology, and blatant partisanship shouldn't have a role in immigration hearings. His judges will be in places for YEARS.

@ifindkarma @matt_cam @TrinityResists @AdamaEsq @axidentaliberal @jomareewade @ImmJusticeNOW @BryanDawsonUSA @brycetache @nycsouthpaw @LiteraryMouse @MamaMayham @BABS5683 @TheLoyalO @LunaLuvgood2020 @ManInTheHoody @AdamParkhomenko @HriSherryb @DanaScottlo @funder @ScottHech @SusanBChurch11 @JainaResists @Augustus709 @mle_goldman @JynErso_Patriot @Norberta36 @lfkraus The 2010 ABA Report lays out issues with one guy hiring all the judges, especially if most were DoJ or ICE lawyers: they're likely to be homogenous, and think very much alike about How Things Should Be. In fact, studies show distinct biases in asylum grants by such IJs.

@ifindkarma @matt_cam @TrinityResists @AdamaEsq @axidentaliberal @jomareewade @ImmJusticeNOW @BryanDawsonUSA @brycetache @nycsouthpaw @LiteraryMouse @MamaMayham @BABS5683 @TheLoyalO @LunaLuvgood2020 @ManInTheHoody @AdamParkhomenko @HriSherryb @DanaScottlo @funder @ScottHech @SusanBChurch11 @JainaResists @Augustus709 @mle_goldman @JynErso_Patriot @Norberta36 @lfkraus @DemocracyStorm @TrisResists @L_Toczylowski @SirineShebaya @JessTherkelsen When the prosecutor and the judge both work for the same guy (ultimately--POTUS) it makes the idea of impartiality a farce. This plays out in ICs everyday.
Two weeks ago, 2 organizations filed a complaint against El Paso IJs about their culture of hostility towards non-citizens.

@ifindkarma @matt_cam @TrinityResists @AdamaEsq @axidentaliberal @jomareewade @ImmJusticeNOW @BryanDawsonUSA @brycetache @nycsouthpaw @LiteraryMouse @MamaMayham @BABS5683 @TheLoyalO @LunaLuvgood2020 @ManInTheHoody @AdamParkhomenko @HriSherryb @DanaScottlo @funder @ScottHech @SusanBChurch11 @JainaResists @Augustus709 @mle_goldman @JynErso_Patriot @Norberta36 @lfkraus @DemocracyStorm @TrisResists @L_Toczylowski @SirineShebaya @JessTherkelsen Some El Paso IJs standing orders: only allowing 100 pages of evidence, no matter how much more might exist; requiring all evidence for an asylum case be submitted even before a bond hearing; not allowing any supplemental evidence later on, if it becomes available.

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