1/ There are 58 immigration courts in the United States.
In the past seven days, one out of every five of them--including my own here in Boston--has been exposed to #covid19.
We can't keep doing this. Please stop making us do this.
In the past seven days, one out of every five of them--including my own here in Boston--has been exposed to #covid19.
We can't keep doing this. Please stop making us do this.
2/ Accidentally posted Chicago twice up there, but there were a total of 11 of these #immigrationcourt exposures this week alone--just as the second wave is cresting.
3/ I haven't physically appeared in #immigrationcourt for weeks, & only then bc I felt it necessary for effective representation in a tough case.
My partner has serious pre-existing lung issues. Many asylum cases are life-and-death.
This is not a choice I should have to make
My partner has serious pre-existing lung issues. Many asylum cases are life-and-death.
This is not a choice I should have to make
4/ @JMolinaFlynnEsq is an outstanding lawyer who had to make the same choice and is now paying for it with a particularly bad case of #covid19 he earned by doing nothing more than showing up for his client. I hope @DOJ_EOIR has seen and really read this.
threadreaderapp.com/thread/1335566…
threadreaderapp.com/thread/1335566…
5/ It gets worse. Boston's #immigrationcourt has jurisdiction over residents of two states with high #covid19 rates (MA/RI) and others with some of the lowest #s (VT/NH/ME). Ppl who would never come in contact w/each other made to share air on threat of deportation if they don't
6/ Maybe even worse? @USCIS is going full speed with in-person interviews, & no apparent intention to even slow down--let alone shut down, even if MA does. Ppl are told not to come if they have symptoms, as if that's enough, but they have overwhelming incentive to attend anyway.
7/ From prolonged, indefinite detentions to absurdly arbitrary visa denials to Constitution-free deportation orders, the US immigration system is steeped in a culture of administrative violence for which no one person is responsible. It was already killing people every day.
8/ We often talk about "rolling the dice" on tough cases. Now it's more like Russian roulette.
These courts & field offices must be closed, & I'm saying this just as much for the ppl who work there & their families as for me and mine.
It's not worth it. Nothing is.
These courts & field offices must be closed, & I'm saying this just as much for the ppl who work there & their families as for me and mine.
It's not worth it. Nothing is.
CORRECTION: one in five *that we know of.* The actual number has to be much closer to 58
9/ so this is just going to happen every day now
#immigrationcourt
#immigrationcourt
https://twitter.com/DOJ_EOIR/status/1336465596578402306?s=19
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