The National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC) has declared, amid deportations of illegal immigrants ordered by the Donald Trump administration, that all individuals in the United States have rights, regardless of immigration status.
The United States non-government organisation has warned that one of the tools the Trump administration may use is an expansion of the “expedited removal” program, combined with raids in neighborhoods and workplaces.
According to the NIJC, using expedited removal, an immigration officer may quickly deport individuals without due process if the government establishes that they entered the United States without immigration documents and have been there for less than two years.
It observed that people deported under expedited removal may be detained and deported without appearing before an immigration judge.
NIJC also noted that regardless of how long they have been in the United States, other immigrants may also experience immigration enforcement and removal.
The organisation advised individuals at risk to seek legal consultation, create a safety plan including identifying emergency contacts and memorising their phone numbers, and collecting documents in a safe place.
“Gather documents showing the length of time you have been in the United States; the most recent two years are most important,” it advised, adding that the documents can include U.S. income tax returns, utility bills, leases, school records, medical records, and bank records.
In addition, NIJC warned against immigration fraud, declaring that individuals should never sign an application with false information or a blank form and only seek legal advice from an attorney or an accredited representative at a Department of Justice-recognised nonprofit organisation.
Flights began on January 23 in what the White House described as the “largest deportation operation” in United States history, attracting protests from civil and human rights groups.
The American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU of the District of Columbia, and the New York Civil Liberties Union have sued the Trump administration over expanding fast-track deportations without a fair legal process.
“President Trump’s decision to fast track deportations is chaotic, unfair, and inhumane. We hope the courts will order President Trump to do his constitutional duty to ‘take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed,'” said Arthur Spitzer, senior counsel at the ACLU of the District of Columbia.
As an American citizen and frequent visitor to Saint Lucia I can tell you most Americans do not support what Donald Trump and his outlaw regime are doing to my country.
May God Bless St. Luica and the Lucian people.
As an American citizen and frequent visitor to Saint Lucia I can tell you most Americans do support President Trump in securing our borders and enforcing our immigration laws that have been in place for over 100 years. Americans welcome immigrants that apply for entry legally. May God Bless St. Lucia and the Lucian people.
I pray for my brothers and sisters whom I don’t know and most likely never will …the fact is God knows them all…those who desire nothing more than an opportunity for self and family. I also agree with a proper vetting system with full background checks.
By all means get the criminals and deport them all but what about those who are only guilty of looking for a better opportunity for self and family which I believe are most of them. They perform jobs that your average American will never do..🙏🏾
I don’t know about anyone else but I am not selfish and so I feel for them ….most of us don’t know what it is like to have no food and live in fear 24/7 for our entire household for serious reason foreign to most of us and yet still some of us are extremely selfish, oppress and judge others. Some is us want good for ourselves and for others we don’t care what they suffer …not good at all. May God have mercy on all of us in Jesus Name.🙏🏾