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We attended immigration court in El Paso today.
16 immigrants attended the hearing (one 8 yr old).
15 didn’t have a lawyer.
4 are separated from family members, they were separated by our government.
(crucial because Trump wants you think they no longer separate families).
16 immigrants attended the hearing (one 8 yr old).
15 didn’t have a lawyer.
4 are separated from family members, they were separated by our government.
(crucial because Trump wants you think they no longer separate families).
When you walk into the Federal Court Building in El Paso you see a statue of a woman balancing the scales of justice.
We didn't snap a photo but it looks like a smaller version of this.
We didn't snap a photo but it looks like a smaller version of this.
This is a long thread but please read.
As we digest the news of the sixth dead child in CBP custody today, what we witnessed in El Paso offers a glimpse into how our immigration system is working for the most vulnerable people.
The system is working as designed.
As we digest the news of the sixth dead child in CBP custody today, what we witnessed in El Paso offers a glimpse into how our immigration system is working for the most vulnerable people.
The system is working as designed.
There is no right to court appointed counsel in the U.S. for migrants seeking asylum so to fill in the gap, groups like ours represent for free. We provide representation in 10 cities throughout Texas but don’t currently have lawyers in El Paso (we need to change that).
The immigrants appeared before the court under the Remain in Mexico policy.
Trump introduced this policy.
For people who are seeking asylum, they must, as the policy states, wait in Mexico until their claim is processed.
Trump introduced this policy.
For people who are seeking asylum, they must, as the policy states, wait in Mexico until their claim is processed.
A father asked the Judge to help him reunite with his wife & their two-year-old daughter. He hasn’t spoken w/them since the our gov separated them.
A young man asked the Judge about his 14 yr old bro. They had been separated & he thinks his bro might be in a shelter in Virginia.
A young man asked the Judge about his 14 yr old bro. They had been separated & he thinks his bro might be in a shelter in Virginia.
Another father, from Honduras, while experiencing a hacking cough, asked the Judge about his fiance and their child. He told us he was detained for 45 days. He said he was scared to go back to the shelter in Juarez as it's too dangerous.
The Judge told each person there was nothing he could do: “The decision to separate you from your family was not mine to make”.
(The banality of evil in action).
The Judge said if was up to DHS to decide whether they would stay in Juarez or reunite them with their families.
(The banality of evil in action).
The Judge said if was up to DHS to decide whether they would stay in Juarez or reunite them with their families.
Every migrant told the Judge:
“I am scared to return to Mexico”.
One father told us he was sleeping on the streets.
One young woman told us she’d been abused in Juarez.
“I am scared to return to Mexico”.
One father told us he was sleeping on the streets.
One young woman told us she’d been abused in Juarez.
The Judge told them: ‘That’s not my decision’, he explained it was up to DHS to interview them.
The were all driven back across the border after the hearing.
The were all driven back across the border after the hearing.
After the hearing they each were granted a meeting with an asylum officer from DHS to determine whether they would go back to Juarez. Under Remain in Mexico, DHS has only allowed 6 people to return out of the hundreds of people caught under this policy in El Paso.
This is our justice system farming out responsibility too DHS.
How can there be accountability behind closed doors? What criteria is DHS using to decide who gets sent back to Mexico? (We heard people from Honduras & Guatemala impacted, but people from Brazil & Cuba are not).
How can there be accountability behind closed doors? What criteria is DHS using to decide who gets sent back to Mexico? (We heard people from Honduras & Guatemala impacted, but people from Brazil & Cuba are not).
So far 6,748 people have been sent back to Mexico.
That’s 6,748 lives we’re putting at risk.
We can’t hold our government accountable for what happens to people we send back to Mexico.
That’s 6,748 lives we’re putting at risk.
We can’t hold our government accountable for what happens to people we send back to Mexico.
Outrage isn’t enough. We need to send a v clear message to CBP, ICE, Stephen Miller and Donald Trump that there will be no peace, until we balance the scales of justice.
And this can only happen if YOU do something.
Organize a protest outside the CBP or ICE office in your town.
And this can only happen if YOU do something.
Organize a protest outside the CBP or ICE office in your town.
Today we witnessed an administrative sham where migrants have effectively no chance of achieving asylum in the U.S. (asylum denial rate in El Paso is 98%).
Now because of Remain in Mexico they are back in Juarez where they are unwelcome and in real danger.
Now because of Remain in Mexico they are back in Juarez where they are unwelcome and in real danger.
The 16 migrants requested more time to find legal representation. They are due back in court on July 18.
The Judge provided immigrants with a list of attorneys to call but we heard those calls don’t get picked up.
The Judge provided immigrants with a list of attorneys to call but we heard those calls don’t get picked up.
Last week we heard one woman told the court she’d been kidnapped while waiting in Juarez.
Will she and the migrants who appeared in court today be alive and safe on July 18? Will they have legal representation?
Will she and the migrants who appeared in court today be alive and safe on July 18? Will they have legal representation?
The hearing was adjourned.
The scales of justice are balanced in favor of a xenophobic and inhumane immigration policy.
Join us in demanding #JusticeForOurChildren
The scales of justice are balanced in favor of a xenophobic and inhumane immigration policy.
Join us in demanding #JusticeForOurChildren
