Just got out of the first day of Operation Streamline in San Diego — court is still in session, but here are some quick notes on it so far.
a) 41 people were brought to court today straight from border patrol stations where they were held all weekend.
a) 41 people were brought to court today straight from border patrol stations where they were held all weekend.
b) They were brought to basement of the federal building in chains where they were interviewed in an open room by their attorneys.
c)They were wearing the clothes they were arrested in. They had slept on the floor of a border patrol station & many had to share space blankets.
c)They were wearing the clothes they were arrested in. They had slept on the floor of a border patrol station & many had to share space blankets.
d) Federal defenders objected to the fact that immigrants were being offered bond or the chance to take a plea, but could not take a plea once their bond was set.
e) They also objected to the creation of a separate courtroom, specifically for immigrants charged w/ misdemeanors.
e) They also objected to the creation of a separate courtroom, specifically for immigrants charged w/ misdemeanors.
f) Previously, an initial appearance (where a group of people are charged and bond is set) can take over an hour. Streamline allowed the judge to go from charging, to accepting pleas, to sentencing in 35 minutes.
g) During pre-plea hearing meetings with the attorney, several of the immigrants were crying, making it difficult for the attorneys to discuss with them the charges they were facing.
h) And FINALLY — the most striking difference is that the prosecutors said pretty much nothing the entire time. During previous initial appearances, federal defenders often made prosecutors argue for bail, questioned evidence, and asked for age determinations. Now, nothing.
I) Operation Streamline has made an immigration prosecutor's job incredibly easy by taking away almost all opportunities for defense lawyers to present a defense and making plea deals so attractive to the alternative, that most feel obligated to take them.
j) Still, almost half of the defendants (most of whom were not Mexican and would not be deported as soon as tomorrow) decided not to take a guilty plea. It's possible some will even go to trial, where federal defenders have fared well.
A dispiriting day in court, to say the least. You can read my previous coverage of Operation Streamline here: theappeal.org/immigrants-and…
And here: theappeal.org/exclusive-immi…
And here: theappeal.org/exclusive-immi…
And this one that kicked it all off: theappeal.org/chaos-in-the-c…
