Border Enforcement

Asylum Seekers Are Being Systematically Turned Away at the U.S.-Mexico Border

It is an egregious, well-documented reality that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) frequently turns away people seeking asylum along the U.S. southern border. But new evidence presented to a federal district court on Monday shows that CBP’s practice of blocking access to asylum—through the use of misrepresentations about the asylum process, threats, abuse, and […]

Trump’s Nominee for DHS Secretary Commits to Continuing Kelly’s Legacy on Immigration Enforcement

The nominee to be the next Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Kirstjen Nielsen, had her confirmation hearing before senators on Wednesday, during which she promised to largely carry on the legacy of her predecessor, General John Kelly. This included limiting President Trump’s plans to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. Echoing […]

Class Action Lawsuit Challenges Practice of Turning Away Asylum Seekers at U.S. Southern Border

Washington D.C. - Today an immigrant rights group and several asylum seekers filed a class action lawsuit against officials at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in a federal district court in California, challenging the government’s unlawful practice of depriving asylum seekers of access to the U.S. asylum process. The lawsuit was brought by the Los Angeles and Tijuana-based organization Al Otro Lado, Inc.

How Discretion Failed One 10-Year-Old Girl and What the Future Holds

Much has been said about Rosa María Hernández, the latest target of the Trump administration’s immigration policies. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has the responsibility and authorization to enforce the immigration laws against those inside the United States without authorization. However, the government’s choice to target a ten-year old girl with cerebral palsy on […]

Senate Committee Holds Hearing on Nominee to Head Border Enforcement Agency

The Trump administration’s pick for the next Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Acting Commissioner Kevin McAleenan, appeared before the Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday for a confirmation hearing. Senators peppered the nominee with questions about how he would lead the largest law enforcement agency in the United States and his work in […]

CBP Is Refusing to Be Transparent About Its Role in Domestic Law Enforcement

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has a long track record of operating in the dark, with little transparency and accountability.  The most recent examples come from the agency’s failure to reveal information about its practice of sending agents to serve as translators in routine law enforcement and local emergency services activities. Strong evidence suggests […]

American Immigration Council's Statement on President Trump's Immigration Principles

The White House released its long anticipated, "Immigration Principles and Policies," which lay out many of the already-stated aspirations of the Trump administration on immigration. The laundry list represents a wholesale attack on immigration and immigrants. It includes not only limits on immigration generally, but enables mass deportations and envisions bypassing necessary procedures that protect children and asylum seekers.

White House Immigration Principles Are Released as DACA Deal Looms

The White House released its Immigration Principles and Policies late Sunday night, providing an outline of the Trump administration’s proposals on immigration. The principles were sent to Congressional leadership with a cover letter demanding these reforms be included in any legislation that addresses protection for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients. The seven-page document […]