Thread by @ImmDef

BREAKING: An 8 y/o boy & his twin 4 y/o sisters are facing potential separation from their mother at the #migrantpersecutionprotocols tent court in Laredo. ImmDef is in touch w/ their atty, Jorge Trevino from @TrevinoLawFirm, who represented them via video from San Antonio today.

Immigration Judge Tijerino granted their asylum-seeking mother “withholding of removal” finding that there is a 50% or higher chance she will be persecuted because of her political opinions if sent back to Venezuela. HE THEN DENIED THE CHILDREN’S APPLICATIONS.

This means that these children, 5 days before Xmas, face being sent back to Mexico alone while appeal is decided. Their dad, a US legal permanent resident, is currently racing from San Antonio to Laredo fearful that his small children could be sent back to Mexico by themselves.

The IJ, while issuing the decision, pointed out that b/c of many recent policy changes he thinks these split decisions will be more common. This is yet another new way @CBP and @DHSgov has found to separate families at our border. This is not justice. This is cruel and horrific.

The atty just sent a colleague to the POE in Laredo to inquire as to the status of the children and what is going to happen. @CBP said they don’t know what will happen to them and told him to leave. This is not justice. This is what it looks like when the rule of law is failing.