Trump administration officials are working on a new package of legislation aimed at closing what they describe as immigration “loopholes.”
Among the measures they want Congress to address are ending special safeguards that prevent the immediate deportation of children traveling alone from countries that don’t border the U. S. They also want Congress to terminate a 1997 court settlement that requires the government to release children from custody to caretakers while their cases are making their way through immigration court.
The proposals appear the same as those included on a White House wish list on immigration that was released in October.
White House Unveils New Immigration Push in Effort to Make Sense of Trump’s Tweets
In a series of tweets over the past two days, President Trump complained about people entering at the southern border to take advantage of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (DACA), raised concerns about “caravans” of Central Americans storming across the border and generally exposed that he doesn’t understand the immigration debate.
In an effort to combat the idea that Trump’s tweets were merely more semi-coherent ramblings, the White House held a conference call with reporters on Monday to outline its new legislative push on immigration. But as CNN reports, the long list of tough immigration policies they highlighted on the call was essentially what they’ve been unsuccessfully pursuing for months.
Trump Calls On Congress to Change “Ridiculous” Immigration Laws
President Trump on Monday called the U.S. illegal immigration processing and deportation system “a whole big wasted procedure” in a pair of tweets demanding that Congress act.
“As ridiculous as it sounds, the laws of our country do not easily allow us to send those crossing our Southern Border back where they came from,” Trump tweeted. The president also said Mexico, Honduras and “many other countries” take advantage of U.S. immigration laws to send their citizens here.
Organizers of U.S.-bound immigrant caravan accuse Trump of “bullying” and “threats of mass violence”
The organization behind the 1,000-person strong caravan of Central Americans surging toward the United States’ southern border accused President Trump on Monday of “bullying” immigrants and threatening with “mass violence”.
The organization said in a statement that Trump was using news of the caravan to threaten DACA recipients and force Congress to pass his favored legislation.
Pueblo Sin Fronteras (People Without Borders), fired back at Trump after the president’s Twitter tirade urging Congress to invoke the “nuclear option” in order to pass bills for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program and tough immigration reform.
Trump Story On Securing U.S.-Mexico Border
Frustrated by slow action on a major campaign promise, President Donald Trump said Tuesday he wants to use the military to secure the U.S.-Mexico border until his promised border wall is built.
Trump told reporters he’s been discussing the idea with Defense Secretary Jim Mattis. “We’re going to be doing things militarily. Until we can have a wall and proper security, we’re going to be guarding our border with the military,” Trump said, calling the move a “big step.”
Mexico Says: We Don’t ‘Make Immigration Decisions for U.S.
Mexico has firmly rejected U.S. President Donald Trump’s accusations of lax efforts to stop illegal migration over the Mexican-U.S. border, saying in a statement Monday that it does not promote such activity under any circumstances.
Mexico’s foreign ministry issued the statement after Trump spent Sunday and Monday tweeting against Mexico’s efforts, referencing an immigrant caravan heading towards the United States.
Local Immigration Activists Criticize Trump’s Tweet On Not Wanting a Deal On DACA
Local pro-immigration activists criticized President Donald Trump Monday, April 2, 2018, because of a tweet he sent out over the weekend. In the tweet Trump complained about the agents of the U.S. Border Patrol not being allowed to properly do their job. At the end of the tweet, the President wrote: “NO MORE DACA DEAL!”
César Espinosa, executive director of the Houston-based group Immigrant Families and Students in the Struggle (known as FIEL by its acronym in Spanish) commented the President hasn’t shown “leadership” because “he hasn’t brought Democrats and Republicans together to really come up with a real, tangible deal.”
Julieta Garibay, director of United We Dream, in Texas was also critical of the President’s latest comment on DACA. For Garibay, saying there will be no deal is “disingenuous” because Trump “never came to the table” to actually negotiate a solution.
Although some members of Congress came up with tentative proposals to provide a solution for the situation of DACA recipients, the White House didn’t back any of them and currently the future of the program is unknown.
Cabinet Members Meeting On Immigration at White House On Tuesday
Key Trump Cabinet officials will gather at the White House on Tuesday to discuss issues including immigration and border security, according to administration officials.
The conversation is set to cover issues ranging from construction of a border wall to the “caravan” of people making their way to the U.S. from Central America, an annual publicity effort to call attention to the plight of Central American migrants that has drawn furious tweets from President Donald Trump in recent days.
Part of the conversations will include discussions about possibly using government money approved for the Pentagon on the construction of the border wall. The conversation could also be broader and cover key defense and security issues facing the U.S.
Huntington Beach Prepares to Sue State to Challenge “Sanctuary” Immigration Laws
Huntington Beach joins a wave of opposition in Orange County to California’s “sanctuary state” laws, such as Senate Bill 54, which in many cases prohibits state and local police agencies from notifying federal officials when immigrants in their custody who may be subject to deportation are about to be released.
Huntington Beach plans to file a lawsuit against California and the state attorney general to challenge the legality of state mandates that expand protections for undocumented immigrants. City Attorney Michael Gates said he will file the suit this week after the City Council gave its approval Monday night on a 6-1 vote.
Nine Activists Arrested at Memphis Immigration Detention Protest
A protest against immigration detention led to the arrests of nine people outside the criminal justice center at 201 Poplar in Downtown on Tuesday afternoon.
Some of the protesters had put on costumes to play the roles of an immigration enforcement agent leading a group of chained-up prisoners. The group was slowly crossing Poplar Avenue and shouting “We have nothing to lose but our chains!” when police stepped in.
Officers took several people into custody, including well-known activists Keedran Franklin, 31, and Spencer Kaaz, 22. Also arrested was Manuel Duran, 42, a reporter with Spanish-language news outlet Memphis Noticias. All nine were charged with disorderly conduct and obstruction of a highway or passageway.
