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WHO WE'RE SUING (AND WHY)
- U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
On November 10, the Council and Black Alliance for Just Immigration (BAJI), with the Immigration Justice Clinic at Cardozo School of Law, filed a lawsuit seeking records from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) about the abuse and mistreatment that Black immigrants face in certain immigration detention centers in the South.
The conditions of confinement for individuals in detention are atrocious, and Black immigrants all too often experience unique abuse and discrimination because of anti-Blackness in detention centers. ICE makes it extremely challenging to uncover detention conditions, even when reports of rampant racism and neglect permeate to the public eye. This lawsuit seeks to expose the agency’s egregious mistreatment of Black immigrants.
Read More: Council Sues to Press for Records About the Treatment of Black Immigrants in Detention
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U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Soon after President Biden came into office, DHS announced new enforcement priorities for ICE. The new guidance required the agency to issue weekly reports about its enforcement activities and removals.
In September of 2021, the Council, Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC), and Mijente Support Committee submitted a FOIA request seeking to uncover these weekly reports. When ICE failed to respond to the request, the Council and its partners filed a lawsuit demanding the release of these critical records.
These reports will provide insight into the administration’s approach to immigration enforcement and the agency’s adherence to its own enforcement priorities.
Read More: Council Sues to Obtain ICE’s Reports on Enforcement Actions and Removals
NOTEWORTHY
- Comments Submitted to DHS and U.S. Customs and Border Protection
DHS and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recently published an “Information Collection Request” proposing a new method for collecting information from certain undocumented individuals prior to their arrival at the U.S. border. The Council and AILA submitted comments in response to this request, voicing significant concerns over the lack of clarity and justification for this proposed process.
The organizations support the agency’s desire to reduce processing time for individuals at the border, but have serious concerns about externalizing critical government functions like border processing or using unreliable technologies like facial recognition. The Information Collection Request did not sufficiently explain any planned training related to the process, provide information about purported efficiencies including reduction in processing times, or adequately address privacy concerns.
These comments highlight the agency’s need to revisit this proposed procedure, thoughtfully reanalyze its purpose and provide the public with a more thorough explanation.
Read More: Council and AILA Submit Comments Regarding CBP Collection of Information at Land Borders
DIG DEEPER
The American Immigration Council works to hold the government accountable on immigration issues. We harness freedom of information requests, litigation, and advocacy to expose wrongdoing and promote transparency within immigration agencies.
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