The Trump administration’s invocation of the Alien Enemies Act has been held up in court for now, amid an escalating legal battle over the government’s compliance with a judicial order. But the importance of the Alien Enemies Act declaration isn’t just because of the court battle, or because the first planeload of deportees was sent to provide forced labor in a prison in El Salvador. If the Trump administration prevails, it will be allowed to resume deportations of Venezuelan men under the act—to El Salvador or any other country that will take them—without giving them any chance of a hearing or even the opportunity to know the evidence against them.
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A federal court in the District of Columbia found that the Department of Government Efficiency, known as “DOGE,” is subject to public oversight through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). The decision is a victory for government transparency and democracy as a whole, as it requires that records created by DOGE such as emails be made available to the public when requested under FOIA. |
In a country built on the principles of freedom and justice, certain fundamental rights for every individual—regardless of their immigration status—are protected under the U.S. Constitution and civil rights laws. However, recent attacks by politicians and government leaders have sought to distort the meaning of these rights and discredit efforts to provide “Know Your Rights” education. |
Sara Hamdi was 12 years old when her parents were forced to “register” with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) because they were non-citizens from a Muslim country. She still remembers the anxiety they felt as they reported to the U.S. government. As they feared, their forced registration with ICE would ultimately lead to years of pain and separation. The harms they suffered because of this forced registration are like what millions of people could soon experience through a new non-citizen registration process announced this month by the Trump administration.
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This past week was Sunshine Week, a collaboration among government transparency groups to highlight the need for public records and an open government.
At the Council, we believe in government transparency. We actively engage with the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to secure data and documentation from government agencies to ensure that they are following the law and to help hold them accountable.
On Friday, we filed a FOIA request seeking records and data from U.S. Air Force about how the agency conducts military deportation flights. The U.S. government has dispatched around 30 military deportation flights globally. However, foreign government officials have expressed concern and submitted complaints regarding the treatment of their citizens on U.S. military aircrafts. The Trump administration has also deported migrants to third countries. But upon arriving, government officials have stated some were unaware which country they were in, and others expressed fear of return to their home countries.
Learn more: Council Files FOIA Request about Flights |
Pouring ever-increasing sums of money into detaining and deporting people will not fix the core problems in our immigration system. But Congress continues to be solely fixated on spending tax dollars on ICE, family separation, and increased enforcement at the U.S.-Mexico border.
It’s past time for the United States to turn away from its singular focus on enforcement and instead focus on a more balanced approach that provides the resources necessary to build a functional humanitarian protection system while balancing security interests in creating a fair and functional immigration system.
In this fact sheet from the Council, we break down the costs associated with the Department of Homeland Security and its component agencies that carry out immigration enforcement.
Read more: The Cost of Immigration Enforcement and Border Security |
The Council is thrilled to see this powerful story take center stage! Don’t miss Real Women Have Curves: The Musical as it debuts this year on Broadway—celebrating resilience, love, and the pursuit of dreams.
Learn more: Real Women Have Curves |
