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A6 U.S. NEWS
Friday 12 July 2019

Trump administration plans immigration enforcement operation

By SOPHIA TAREEN and forcement operations.
COLLEEN LONG “As always, ICE prioritizes
Associated Press the arrest and removal of
CHICAGO (AP) — The Trump unlawfully present aliens
administration is moving who pose a threat to na-
forward with a nationwide tional security, public safe-
immigration enforcement ty and border security,” ac-
operation this weekend tar- cording to the statement.
geting migrant families, de- Trump started hinting anew
spite loud opposition from in recent days that more
Democrats and questions removals were coming.
over whether it’s the best He said last weekend they
use of resources given the would be starting “fairly
crisis at the border. soon.”
The operation had been “Well, I don’t call them
postponed by President raids,” he said. “I say they
Donald Trump late last came in illegally and we’re
month and would target bringing them out legally.”
people with final depor- Ken Cuccinelli, the new
tation orders, including head of Citizenship and
families whose immigration Immigration Services, told
cases were fast-tracked by Mony Ruiz-Velasco, center, director of PASO West Suburban Action Project, chants with CNN on Wednesday that
judges in 10 major cities, demonstrators following a new conference outside the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services the raids were “absolutely
including Chicago, Los An- offices in Chicago, Thursday, July 11, 2019. going to happen.”
geles, New York and Miami. Associated Press Pelosi said she hoped the
It has sparked outrage and spoke on condition of The operation is similar to in the country illegally, a administration would re-
and concern among immi- anonymity. Still, the Ameri- ones conducted regularly near-impossibility given the consider. “Families belong
grant-rights advocates and can Civil Liberties Union since 2003 that often pro- limited resources of ICE, together,” she said.
lawmakers. pre-emptively filed a law- duce hundreds of arrests. It which makes the arrests The administration has
“Our communities have suit Thursday in an attempt is slightly unusual to target and carries out deportation been straining to man-
been in constant fear,” Es- to protect asylum seekers. families, as opposed to im- orders. age a border crisis , and
tela Vara, a Chicago-area Meanwhile, activists migrants with criminal his- Then he abruptly can- some officials believe flashy
organizer said Thursday at ramped up efforts to pre- tories, but it’s not unprec- celed the operation after shows of force in deporting
a rally outside the city’s pare by bolstering know- edented. The Obama and a phone call with House families would deter others
Immigration and Custom your-rights pocket guides, Trump administrations have Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a migrants from coming. But
Enforcement offices where circulating information targeted families in previ- California Democrat, while others have criticized any
some activists chanted about hotlines and plan- ous operations. lawmakers worked to pass move that draws resources
“Immigration Not Deporta- ning public demonstra- But this latest effort is nota- a $4.6 billion border aid away from the border at a
tion!” tions. Vigils outside of de- ble because of the politics package . Plus, details had time when the Border Patrol
The sweep remains in flux tention centers and other swirling around it. leaked, and authorities is detaining four times the
and could begin this week- hundreds of locations na- Trump announced on Twit- worried about the safety of number of people it can
end or later, according to tionwide were set for Friday ter last month that the ICE officers. hold. Also, a watchdog re-
two administration officials, evening, to be followed by sweep would mark the be- The agency said in a state- port found filthy, potentially
who were not authorized to protests Saturday in Miami ginning of a push to deport ment that it would not dis- dangerous conditions at
discuss the matter publicly and Chicago. millions of people who are cuss specifics about en- some stations.q

Spanish-language reporter released from immigration custody

By ADRIAN SAINZ downtown courthouse on activists and journalism or-
Associated Press the 50th anniversary of the ganizations have spoken
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — A Rev. Martin Luther King. Jr’s against his detention.
Spanish-language reporter assassination. The Board of Immigration
who has been facing de- Protest-related charg- Appeals reopened Duran’s
portation since his arrest 15 es were subsequently case this week. Lawyers are
months ago while cover- dropped, but Duran was seeking asylum, arguing
ing an immigration protest picked up by immigra- that conditions have wors-
in Tennessee was released tion agents after he was ened for journalists in El Sal-
Thursday from custody as released from jail and de- vador and he could be in
his case proceeds. tained. He had been held danger if he returns. The im-
Manuel Duran was re- in facilities in Louisiana and migration board acknowl-
leased from an Alabama Alabama since his arrest. edged that conditions for
detention center on a U.S. Immigration and Cus- reporters have changed
$2,000 bail set by U.S. Im- toms Enforcement has said for the worse in Duran’s
migration and Customs En- Duran was taken into cus- home country since his ini-
forcement, Southern Pov- In this April 3, 2018 file photo, Memphis police arrest Spanish- tody because he had a tial deportation order, Willis
erty Law Center attorney language reporter Manuel Duran during an immigration protest pending deportation order said
Gracie Willis said. in Memphis, Tenn. from 2007 after failing to “We are certainly very ex-
“I feel like I’m reborn,” Du- Associated Press appear for a court hear- cited for him to be released
ran said in a statement re- but thanks to God, this is April 3, 2018, rally protest- ing. Duran has said he did from detention,” Willis said.
leased by the center. “I am the day I waited for.” ing immigration policies in not receive a notice to ap- “It’s taken 15 months of
happy for this day. It has The El Salvador native was Memphis. Protesters had pear in court with a time very active litigation to get
been a very difficult time arrested while covering an blocked a street in front a and date on it. Immigration him here.” q