[Here is the article:
A new Justice Department memo outlines the Trump administration’s plans to challenge “sanctuary city” laws by threatening to prosecute state and local officials who resist the federal immigration crackdown. The three-page memo from acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove states that federal prosecutors who decline to prosecute immigration cases will be reported to the Justice Department for investigation and potential prosecution.
The memo is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to shift American immigration policy. In his presidential campaign, Trump vowed to clamp down on immigration and undo Biden-era policies that he said were too permissive and allowed a large influx of undocumented immigrants.
On Monday, Trump signed executive orders that would give the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency greater ability to conduct enforcement actions in sensitive areas, expand the pool of undocumented immigrants subject to fast-track deportation, and attempt to end birthright citizenship. The actions have created fear and confusion among immigrants, with many left wondering what to do if ICE comes knocking.
Nedi, a 35-year-old Venezuelan mother of two, set off six months ago on a treacherous journey to the U.S. and arrived in San Diego 11 days ago. With her appointment canceled, she is now anxious and in limbo. “I left behind friends and family who didn’t make it, and we don’t know what will happen,” she said. “We’re worried about not being able to stay, about being sent back.”
The Trump administration’s actions have also set up a conflict between local and federal officials, as a number of Democratic-led cities in Colorado, Illinois, and California have instituted sanctuary city policies restricting cooperation with federal immigration officials’ efforts to arrest, detain, or gather information on migrants. White House border czar Tom Homan has threatened to arrest more officials in these cities, calling it “game on.”
Under the new policies, ICE will conduct targeted enforcement operations in sensitive areas like schools and churches, and will identify and arrest individuals who are with other undocumented immigrants. The Trump administration is also expanding a procedure to speed up deportations, including sending home undocumented immigrants who cannot prove they have lived in the U.S. for at least two years.
The “catch and release” practice, where migrants are provisionally released into the U.S. while they wait for their immigration court date, is also being phased out. Instead, migrants will be held in custody and not released. Catholic Charities of San Diego, which provides shelter and food to migrants, is no longer accepting new arrivals, as the federal agency has stopped releasing migrants to their care.
Experts predict that these policies will cause widespread fear and uncertainty, and may lead to more injuries and fatalities of people attempting to cross the U.S.-Mexico border. “I want our families to feel confident they can send their children to school; we are not going to interact with ICE,” said a Chicago Public Schools CEO. Chicago and other cities are planning to resist the Trump administration’s new priorities, with some school districts training staff to respond to ICE raids and others refusing to assist federal immigration authorities with enforcement actions.
In the coming days, the Trump administration will continue to roll out its immigration policies, which are likely to have far-reaching consequences for the country’s immigrant communities.
Source link
