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A2 U.S. NEWS
Thursday 24 OcTOber 2019
ICE withdraws big fines for immigrants living in churches

By KANTELE FRANKO total of nine notifications in
Associated Press June about its intent to pur-
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — sue fines. It said Wednes-
U.S. Immigration and Cus- day that eight of those
toms Enforcement is revers- have been withdrawn, and
ing course months after one still is being pursued. It
threatening six-figure fines didn't identify those cases
against immigrants taking or name the immigrants in-
sanctuary at churches. volved.
Seven women have been The six-figure penalties
notified that ICE, using its were another reminder
discretion, is withdrawing of how President Donald
its intent to pursue fines Trump has made cracking
ranging from $300,000 and down immigration - legal
$500,000 for their refusal to and illegal - a top domestic
leave the country as or- priority.
dered, according to the Immigrants who are free on
National Sanctuary Col- bond but ordered to leave
lective, a coalition of attor- the country are typically
neys, organizers and other given a date to report to im-
advocates for them. They migration authorities for re-
count it as a victory. moval. Others are ordered
"We knew that these exor- In a Wednesday, July 17, 2019 file photo, Maria Chavalan-Sut of Guatemala, one of a number to check in with authorities,
bitant fines were illegal and of immigrants taking sanctuary at houses of worship, speaks during an interview at the Wesley which, under former Presi-
were nothing more than a Memorial United Methodist Church in Charlottesville, Va. dent Barack Obama-era
tool to scare our clients and Associated Press policies, generally didn't
retaliate against them for The immigrants have re- relief from deportation at lottesville, Virginia. Another result in deportation unless
fighting back and standing mained in the U.S. in viola- houses of worship because woman has lived in sanctu- the person was convicted
up to this administration," tion of the law and still are immigration officials con- ary with her 11-year-old son of a serious crime in the
attorney Lizbeth Mateo, subject to removal orders sider them "sensitive loca- in Austin, Texas, for more United States.
who represents a Mexican that ICE will enforce "us- tions" and avoid enforce- than two years. Trump lifted those restric-
woman living at an Ohio ing any and all available ment action at such sites. In a statement, she said tions almost immediately,
church, said in a statement. means," agency spokes- Maria Chavalan-Sut, an ICE's reversal on the fines causing people to get de-
Mateo said immigration of- man Richard Rocha said in indigenous woman from is "an example of what ported when they reported
ficials should exercise the an email. He said ICE also Guatemala, seeking asy- speaking out and organiz- to ICE offices as instructed
same discretion "to release could reassess the fines. lum moved into a United ing can accomplish." and discouraging others
sanctuary families." Immigrants have sought Methodist church in Char- The agency said it issued a from coming.q

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