Thread: Senate Democrats Question ICE Arrests of Spouses of U.S. Citizens

Senate Democrats Question ICE Arrests of Spouses of U.S. Citizens

Cite examples of separations at USCIS offices

Posted Jul 19, 2018 10:26 AM
Niels Lesniewski@nielslesniewski

Sen. Robert Menendez has led a letter questioning immigration enforcement practices. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call file photo)

Some Senate Democrats are alarmed by what may be a pattern of ICE making arrests when immigrants are conducting routine business at citizenship and immigration services offices.

In a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen and the acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement chief Ronald Vitiello, a group of 10 Senate Democrats cited examples of married couples being separated at USCIS facilities when one partner may not have legal status but the other member of the couple is an American citizen.

“Although both couples were legally married, the undocumented spouses in each case had outstanding deportation orders that they were trying to remedy through the appropriate process as prescribed in U.S. law,”
the senators wrote. “Ripping apart families and punishing those who are trying to come out of the shadows does not make us safer, nor is it the best use of ICE’s time and resources. Moreover, it sends a chilling effect to other immigrants who seek to adjust their status and therefore must interact with USCIS.”

Sen. Robert Menendez of New Jersey led the letter, which was dated Wednesday and circulated publicly on Thursday.

The prospect of immigrants being arrested for reasons other than pressing national security or criminal considerations at the facilities could be problematic.

The senators noted that USCIS is not designed as an enforcement agency.

In fact, the U.S. government used to combine administrative and enforcement functions under the old Immigration and Naturalization Service, but that was resdesigned.

“Immigrants come to USCIS with the expectation that they will be interviewed in good faith. Reports that these interviews have resulted in arrests have instilled fear in undocumented immigrants who now feel increased pressure to remain in the shadows,” the senators wrote. “Therefore, the current practice illustrates the recklessness of the administration’s immigration priorities and contradicts its assertions that it is going after immigrants who are serious criminals.”

https://www.rollcall.com/news/politi...s-u-s-citizens

Glad these Dems are not chairing the committees these days. What a circus that would be!

These illegals are already under a deportation order. So I guess Menendez is suggesting we should ignore the law.

Originally Posted by MW

These illegals are already under a deportation order. So I guess Menendez is suggesting we should ignore the law.

They won the can't separate children
Now they are going for can't separate married couples
Next it will be can't separate cousins

Originally Posted by stoptheinvaders

They won the can't separate children
Now they are going for can't separate married couples
Next it will be can't separate cousins

Why do you want to separate them? Trump said during the campaign to deport the whole family as a "single unit". And he's right about that. Deport the whole family unit as a single unit at one time, together. Kids, spouses, siblings, cousins, grandma and grandpa, aunts and uncles, etc., all of them.

Originally Posted by Judy

Why do you want to separate them? Trump said during the campaign to deport the whole family as a "single unit". And he's right about that. Deport the whole family unit as a single unit at one time, together. Kids, spouses, siblings, cousins, grandma and grandpa, aunts and uncles, etc., all of them.

Did I say I wanted to separate them? No

What Trump said during the campaign and what he is saying and doing now are 2 entirely different things and they are worlds apart.

Originally Posted by stoptheinvaders

Did I say I wanted to separate them? No

What Trump said during the campaign and what he is saying and doing now are 2 entirely different things and they are worlds apart.

You said "they won". I assumed that meant you lost.

Not really. He just can't get the DOJ to do what he wants them to do which is deport them all as a single family unit. Sessions knows what Trump wanted on this, Sessions was involved in the campaign, so he should have or should now move forward amd organize the hearings so that all relation are at the hearing at the same time, asked the same two questions and deported as a single family unit, and all minor children including anchor babies are present and ordered removed with the deported parents or other relatives.

Originally Posted by Judy

You said "they won". I assumed that meant you lost.

Not really. He just can't get the DOJ to do what he wants them to do which is deport them all as a single family unit. Sessions knows what Trump wanted on this, Sessions was involved in the campaign, so he should have or should now moving forward organize the hearings so that all relation are at the hearing at the same time, asked the same two questions and deported as a single family unit, and all minor children including anchor babies are present and ordered removed with the deported parents or other relatives.

Typical, again Trump remains blame free.

Do you honestly believe Jeff Sessions is acting in opposition to what Trump wants? If so, you couldn't be further from the truth. Jeff Sessions is doing everything, within the law, Trump campaigned on.

As you said in another thread, Trump only knows what he's being told. Jeff Sessions, on the other hand, knows what he's doing and has been Trump's most effective cabinet member up to this point.

Just because Trump is wrongfully obsessed with Sessions recusal from the Russia collusion probe doesn't mean he's not happy with what he's doing on immigration. If you've heard or seen otherwise, please share the information. Most of us on ALIPAC are here because our #1 priority is illegal immigration. On that front there is no one in the Trump administration more motivated and dedicated to fighting illegal immigration than AG Jeff Sessions!

Is there some law that prevents deporting families as a single unit within 20 days? I'm not aware of one. If there isn't, then why isn't Sessions deporting the entire family as a single unit?

Originally Posted by Judy

Is there some law that prevents deporting families as a single unit within 20 days? I'm not aware of one. If there isn't, then why isn't Sessions deporting the entire family as a single unit?

Judy, I don't think there is a law to prevent deportation within 20 days. They need to process cases within 19 days to stop the foolishness. More people are needed to speed things up.

America is being gamed by everyone and our government is allowing it. Shameful.