Thread: ICE will no longer release families in Yuma; they will be transported to Phoenix

ICE will no longer release migrant families in Yuma; they will be transported to Phoenix

Rafael Carranza, Arizona RepublicPublished 7:03 p.m. MT Oct. 26, 2018 | Updated 7:45 p.m. MT Oct. 26, 2018

Arizona Republic reporters explain the difference between seeking asylum at the border and attempting to immigrate illegally. Carly Henry, The Republic | azcentral.com


(Photo: Border Patrol)


YUMA — U.S. immigration officials confirmed Friday that they will no longer release from detention hundreds of migrant families in this small border community.

Instead, the families will be transported and released in Phoenix, where there are better transportation options and more services to accommodate them.

The announcement from Immigration and Customs Enforcement comes a day after Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen visited the Yuma area for the second time this year, as the numbers of migrant families and minors, coming mostly from Central America, arriving at the border grow.

Under the new guidelines, ICE officers will bus families enrolled into its Alternative to Detention program to Phoenix and release them into the custody of nonprofit and faith-based groups, the agency said.

“The dynamics of operational realities are ever-changing on the ground and ICE makes adjustments as required to best serve the mission," Deputy Press Secretary Sarah Rodriguez told The Arizona Republic in a statement. "Coordination with external organizations continues with regard to the release of these families in Phoenix.”

The sudden release in early October of large numbers of migrant families around the state overwhelmed nonprofits. It especially hit hard in Yuma, a border community with an approximate population of 200,000.

Despite being the second-busiest entry point for migrant families along the entire U.S.-Mexico border, Yuma has fewer services and no permanent facilities to help released migrants.

NIELSEN: Trump considering 'every option' to stop caravan from reaching border


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Several hundred Central American migrants walking on tCatholic Community Services of Southern Arizona, one of two nonprofits helping migrants in town, resorted to putting up families in hotels to better cope with the large influx.

Teresa Cavendish, the group's director of operations, said they received a call on Wednesday notifying them about ICE's plans to transport migrant families to Phoenix instead.

"The reason they stated for not releasing families in Yuma ... was the economy of scale," she said. "It hasn’t been productive for them to make those kind of released with 11 to 20 people a day, when they can bus all those folks to Phoenix."
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The Phoenix Restoration Project, one of the nonprofits helping migrants in Phoenix, said on Thursday they had not been made aware of any changes.

Because there are no family detention facilities in Arizona, asylum-seeking families are released into the custody of a relative living in the United States after they pass their credible-fear interviews. They are outfitted with an ankle monitor, and given a notice to appear at an immigration court several weeks later at their relative's location.

MORE: Southwest Key to close 2 Phoenix-area migrant-child shelters, pay fine

That process is what President Donald Trump and his administration refer to as a "catch and release" policy. They have actively advocated for a legislative change to the practice, seeking instead to challenge laws and court rulings restricting the government's ability to hold minors and families in detention.

Nonetheless, ICE announced this week that it would expand along the entire U.S.-Mexico border the practice they started in Arizona earlier this month, which resulted in the mass release of families that overwhelmed shelters and nonprofits.

Rodriguez issued the same statement that ICE released weeks ago in Arizona, blaming their decision to cease all "post-release" plans for migrant families on laws and court rulings restricting the government's treatment of minors in detention.

RELATED: How might Arizona handle a 7,000-plus-member migrant caravan?

ICE's new guidelines and Nielsen's visit to Yuma come on the heels of pressure mounted by local leaders and Arizona's two senators asking the federal government to step in and take action to address the issue.

Details of Nielsen's schedule while in Yuma on Thursday were kept under wraps, with occasional updates posted through social media.

Nielsen, joined by Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Kevin McAleenan and ICE Acting Director Ron Vitiello, met with local CBP leaders. She also toured the San Luis port of entry, where about 30 migrants are camped out on the Mexican side waiting to legally claim asylum in the U.S.
She rounded out her visit by meeting with local elected and law-enforcement leaders.

https://www.azcentral.com/story/news...ma/1764048002/

I know this is in English, but I need an interpreter.

Is this saying the government couldn't handle this so they stuck Yuma with it, and now Yuma can't handle it and will pass it off to Phoenix.

What happens when Phoenix realizes they are stuck with it?

So very wrong. Yuma cannot bear it and no other community should be made to bear this invasion. The United States government is permitting and assisting illegal aliens to choose their area of residence. Aiding and abetting by our government, paid for by citizen taxpayers.

They need to stop entry. Review the newer cases quickly, within the 20 days for those with children. Send them out quickly.

Why are we hoarding and stocking up on illegal aliens?

Originally Posted by stoptheinvaders

. . . What happens when Phoenix realizes they are stuck with it?

Ever hear of Tucson?

Border Patrol conducts the "credible fear" interview, right? Why are they approving 93% of these phony asylum-seekers for an asylum hearing? Border Patrol has some explaining to do in my opinion.

Originally Posted by JohnDoe2

Ever hear of Tucson?

I'm suggesting the lawn of the WH, but why stop there just open up the dining halls and the bedrooms.

Increased Numbers of Released Immigrants Pass Through San Antonio

Originally Posted by Judy

Border Patrol conducts the "credible fear" interview, right? Why are they approving 93% of these phony asylum-seekers for an asylum hearing? Border Patrol has some explaining to do in my opinion.

The credible fear interview is conducted by a trained asylum officer within the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

Requesting Asylum at U.S. Border? What to Expect at Credible Fear Interview

The initial interview for applicants who request asylum immediately upon entering the U.S.

Many noncitizens of the U.S., particularly from south of the border, attempt to enter the U.S. without documentation (a visa or green card) or by using false documentation. The law requires that they be placed in a deportation process called “expedited removal,” according to which they will be sent home without a hearing -- unless they request asylum. In response to the large number of these asylum requests, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has implemented an interview process known as credible fear screening.

The idea behind a credible fear interview is that noncitizens can, instead of being sent straight home, apply for asylum or withholding of removal if they are able to establish a credible (believable) fear of persecution or torture if returned to their home country. But they need to get past this initial screening in order to actually present their full asylum case to an immigration judge for approval or denial.

Initial Contact With Customs and Border Protection Officers

When a Custom and Border Protection (CBP) officer detains a noncitizen for not having the required immigration documents or for attempting to commit fraud to enter the U.S., CBP will ask whether the person has a fear of returning to his or her home country. A person who says “no” will be removed from the United States. If the person expresses a fear of persecution or torture, CBP officers will set up a credible fear interview with an asylum officer.

Preparing for the Credible Fear Interview

The detainee should be given at least 48 hours to prepare for the interview unless he or she waives (gives up the right to) the waiting period. In most situations, the person must wait days or even weeks in detention before the interview will take place.

The asylum officer who conducts the interview will receive notes about the date the person being interviewed entered the U.S., the place of entry into the U.S., and whether the person initially claimed fear of persecution or torture.

It is important for the person being interviewed to keep detailed notes about his or her story and to be consistent in his or her testimony throughout the entire process. Few applicants have documentation or other proof of their claim, so the quality of their own testimony becomes crucial.

What Happens at the Credible Fear Interview

At the interview, the asylum officer will ask questions, either in person or via telephonic or satellite communication. An interpreter will be present to translate the questions into the detainee’s native language.

The first set of questions will be about the detainee’s background information including the person’s birthdate, home country, and whether the person has any family ties in the United States. The next series of questions is about the detainee’s fear of return to the home country. When the detainee gives a reason for fear, the interviewer will ask a series of follow-up questions about that fear.

The interviewer then asks a very important set of questions about why the detainee is being persecuted. The interviewer asks whether the detainee has ever been threatened or harmed due to race or ethnicity, religion, nationality, political opinion, or because the person belongs to a specific social group. This is a critical point in the interview, because if the fear is not related to one of these categories, the detainee’s asylum case will likely fail. What’s more, if the detainee answers “no” to each of these questions or changes aspects of his or her answer in subsequent interviews or hearings, such inconsistencies will be used to discredit the entire story.

Next, the interviewer will ask a series of questions about whether the interviewee has faced torture or mistreatment by government officials. Then the interviewer will ask about situations that would bar the detainee from applying for asylum, including whether the detainee has ever persecuted other people, committed a crime in another country, or associated with terrorists or a group accused of using violence.

Lastly, the interviewer will give a brief summary statement and ask whether the applicant has anything he or she would like to add.

After the interview, the officer will decide whether the applicant has demonstrated a credible fear of persecution or torture in the applicant’s home country. The standard used is whether the detainee has demonstrated a “significant possibility” of being able to prove to the satisfaction of an immigration judge that the detainee would be persecuted on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion if returned to his or her home country.

Procedures After the Interview

After the interview is complete, the interviewer will decide whether the detainee has a credible fear or not. The interviewer will provide a written decision and a transcript of the interview to the detainee.

A detainee who has established a credible fear of persecution will be allowed to apply for asylum, either while in detention or after having been released on a bond. A detainee who has not established a credible fear can request a review of this decision in a hearing by an immigration judge as a last effort to avoid being removed from the country.

Tips for Preparing for Credible Fear Screenings

Preparation for the credible fear screening process is critical. First, try not to hold back when discussing the details of your case with government agents. You may have come from a country where you cannot trust law enforcement. But interviewers and DHS attorneys may seek to discredit your story if later you begin to add important details that you failed to include in your first interview.

Second, keep detailed notes about your experiences and fear of return. These will help you remember the dates and other details and be consistent each time you tell your story.

Lastly, if possible, contact a local attorney prior to your credible fear interview for help preparing for the interview process. Although finding an attorney while detained can be a challenge, you can use the list of free legal services that the government provides, contact family members and ask them to find an attorney who can reach you at the detention center, or ask other detainees about their legal counsel and how to contact them.

https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclope...interview.html

The transcript of the credible fear interview is part of the applicant's asylum file and may be used by an Immigration Judge later when deciding whether to grant the applicant asylum. Due to manpower and resource constraints faced by the USCIS, over 60% of credible fear interviews are conducted telephonically.

Credible fear