Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (7th District of Washington)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Immigration, Security, Integrity, and Enforcement, is leading 62 Members of Congress in demanding that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) rescind its July memo denying bond hearings to certain detained immigrants.
“ICE created a legal fiction on which to rely: that all immigrants who entered without inspection, regardless of the timing of their entry, are to be treated as if they are still seeking admission at the border, and therefore afforded fewer protections under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA),” wrote the Members.
Typically, immigrants in the U.S. have been afforded the right to request a bond hearing before an immigration judge. Todd Lyons, Acting ICE Director, however, arbitrarily determined that immigrants who entered between ports of entry, even if they have been living in the United States for decades since that initial entry, are no longer eligible for bond hearings.
This policy has been rejected in court by judges from 35 different states, appointed by every single President since Ronald Reagan, including 33 appointed by President Trump himself. Despite hundreds of rulings that these individuals are entitled to bond hearings, immigrants across the country continue to be denied bond hearings due to ICE’s policy.
“This must end. As executive branch appointees, your job is to enforce the law. Over 300 judges have told you 1,600 times exactly what the law is. Now you must follow it. Rescind this absurd memo and allow detained immigrants the opportunity to obtain bond hearings,” concluded the Members.
The full letter can be read here.
The letter was signed by Representatives Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03), Becca Balint (VT-At Large), Nanette Barragán (CA-44), Donald S. Beyer, Jr. (VA-08), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Shontel Brown (OH-11), Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Greg Casar (TX-35), Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), Danny K. Davis (IL-07), Madeline Dean (PA-04), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), Veronica Escobar (TX-16), Lizzie Fletcher (TX-7), Valerie Foushee (NC-4), Laura Friedman (CA-30), John Garamendi (CA-08), Jesus “Chuy” García (IL-04), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Daniel Goldman (NY-10), Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), Adelita Grijalva (AZ-07), Jahana Hayes (CT-05), Val Hoyle (OR-04), Henry “Hank” Johnson, Jr. (GA-04), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), Robin Kelly (IL-02), Teresa Leger Fernandez (NM-03), Ted Lieu (CA-36), Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), April McClain Delaney (MD-06), Morgan McGarvey (KY-03), LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), Robert Menendez (NJ-08), Kelly Morrison (MN-03), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-At Large), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Frank Pallone (NJ-06), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Delia Ramirez (IL-03), Emily Randall (WA-06), Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Deborah Ross (NC-02), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Adam Smith (WA-09), Darren Soto (FL-09), Melanie Stansbury (NM-01), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Jill Tokuda (HI-02), Paul Tonko (NY-20), Ritchie Torres (NY-15), Lori Trahan (MA-03), Derek Tran (CA-45), Juan Vargas (CA-52), Nydia M. Velázquez (NY-07), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), and Nikema Williams (GA-05).
Issues: Immigration