Lawyers fear the criminalization of immigrants seeking asylum
News from Univision Noticias
On Tuesday, Attorney General Jeff Sessions signed a memorandum ordering more severe punishments for undocumented immigrants arrested at the border. As a result, civil rights groups, lawyers and academics are concerned about the criminalization of immigrants seeking asylum, reports Jorge Cancino from Univision Noticias.
Chris Rickerd, political advisor to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), said Sessions is trying to turn all immigrants into criminals and is destroying families in the process. In addition, he mentions how the act of prosecuting asylum seekers or first-time immigrants crossing the border is unconstitutional and simply unjust.
Furthermore, Matt Adams, director of the legal department of the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project in Washington, advises undocumented immigrants to attend their court appointments to avoid further problems.
Sessions’ new policy has yet to be enforced and has no set date.
