Details matter, and from what I can see people are playing very fast and loose with the details.
Trump's policy is 100% prosecution for those caught crossing illegally.
Showing up at a port of entry asking for admittance to seek asylum is not illegal, however.
Trump's policy is 100% prosecution for those caught crossing illegally.
Showing up at a port of entry asking for admittance to seek asylum is not illegal, however.
Trump's 100% prosecution policy for illegal border crossers is where the family separation comes from.
Port of entry parolees or admits w/referral to removal proceedings are not resulting in family separation.
Port of entry parolees or admits w/referral to removal proceedings are not resulting in family separation.
You've conflated those who cross the border illegally and then seek asylum with those who appear at a port of entry and ask for admittance to seek asylum. Two different groups, and they're subject to different immigration processes.
Lots of people are just lazy about this and shorthanding the description of these migrants as "asylum-seekers." That's partially accurate, but incomplete.
The ones subject to family separation are those who crossed illegally and only sought asylum when they got caught.
The ones subject to family separation are those who crossed illegally and only sought asylum when they got caught.
That's a distinct group, subject to different immigration and criminal laws, than the group of asylum-seekers who show up at a port of entry and seek admittance.
An example of asylum-seekers who showed up at a port of entry and sought admittance for the purpose of seeking asylum would be those folks who were part of the big "caravan" in April and May.
They were allowed entry without family separation. See, e.g., nypost.com/2018/05/04/doz…
They were allowed entry without family separation. See, e.g., nypost.com/2018/05/04/doz…
One additional thought to add to this thread: even though it's called zero tolerance or 100% prosecution, that's not quite accurate either.
Reports are that those caught crossing illegally can voluntarily return to where they came from w/o prosecution and family separation.
Reports are that those caught crossing illegally can voluntarily return to where they came from w/o prosecution and family separation.
It's the ones who have crossed illegally and who don't want to leave voluntarily who end up subject to prosecution and family separation (criminal courts) while they apply for asylum (asylum office/immigration courts).
This assertion is based on a misconception. You may not apply for asylum from a U.S. embassy overseas.
Asylum can be granted only to those within the United States. (This is separate from the refugee process, which is a whole different thing.)
Asylum can be granted only to those within the United States. (This is separate from the refugee process, which is a whole different thing.)
