Thread by @luzenlafrontera

When the wingnuts on the internet find you--- well you're obviously doing something right. But they have a lot of questions, lots of conspiracies in mind. However because the internet is interactive, I thought I'd start this thread. It's like Dear Abby for suspicious minds.

# 1 I don't know George Soros. I've heard a lot about him in the news of the last year. Apparently he's funding me. While that would be helpful, its not in the cards for the moment. But please pass on my Twitter to him if he would like to support.
#CallMePleaseGeorge

# 2 I'm not a Democrat attorney from San Diego. I consider myself a person without a political party. I believe most politicians promise what they cannot or will not deliver. I choose not to participate, no campaigning for me in the past nor future.

#3 Title 8, Section 1225 of the US federal code allows for asylum seekers to present themselves to immigration authorities at a US port of entry, after which they are referred for an interview. This is the legal process. There is no line. No line jumpers here.

#4 A lot of people speak about jumping the line, or waiting one's turn. This analogy does not apply to asylum. The number of asylum seekers that arrive has no impact on when your family member's visa gets approved. One is an Immigration Apple. The other is an Immigration Orange.

#5 Some people like to quote to me Title 8, ,Section 1324 (Bringing in & harboring certain aliens). Those folks fail to read the statute. Also, they obviously don't know I'm a former federal public defender, and we're suing DHS. So I'd say I know federal law very well.

#6 We do not coach asylum seekers to lie. Think about any legal process that you would need a lawyer. The lawyer would explain to you your options under the law, & possible outcomes. Then you make a decision about going forward with the case. Or do you always represent yourself?

#7 Our legal orientation materials and know-your-rights presentation are modeled after presentation materials approved by the DOJ. No "state's secrets" there.

#8 & even after we explain the legal process & their theoretical rights, we still inform them of the realities of ICE detention, the possibility of permanent family separation, no access to counsel & dying in custody. Definitely not painting the US as Disneyland. Because its not.

#9 People angry about Central American and Mexican migration forgot that over 65 years of foreign policy, the US government has funded puppet democracies & friendly dictatorships, & trained the most prolific human rights violators of Latin America at the School of the Americas.

#10 So literally, Central Americans are being asked to rise up against oppressive system that we helped fund and create. Guatemalan Civil War anyone? 2009 Golpe de Estado en Honduras anyone? Bueller? Bueller?

# 11 In the 1990s the US government began deporting members of gangs, including MS13 and 18th Street, in record numbers, sending them back to countries ill-equipped to receive them, because we had destabilized the socioeconomic and political climate of the entire region.

# 12 In places, like the Northern Triangle you can't just go make a police report. You can't just "fight for your rights." Because organized crime controls the government, pays off candidates & police, buys military grade weapons. There;s a reason we have the phrase narcogobierno

# 13 So its a bit unrealistic to believe that people fleeing should rise up against the power structures that we trained, financed, and put into place. You can't fight assault rifles with a baby bottle or a Bible. Or even a beer bottle.

#14 If you're thinking that you can do it better, then do it. The time is precious and finite. Get involved in the community that you call home. Work on root causes of migration & justice in the system. Most of all remember, there but for the Grace of God go any one of us.