For nearly 20 years, the U.S. government has prosecuted migration-related offenses in greater numbers than any other type of federal offense in the United States. Most recently, the Trump administration has used migration-related prosecutions as part of its anti-immigrant policymaking in ways that systematically separate families and violate national and international legal obligations.
On Tuesday August 4th, join us in the National Immigrant Justice Center’s (NIJC) Policy Corner to learn about a year-long investigation into rights violations stemming from prosecutions for unauthorized entry and reentry. Jesse Franzblau, the lead author of NIJC’s new report about the investigation, will discuss our research findings on rights violations, which include the separation of families, violations of asylum laws and due process protections, and dehumanizing and racist treatment of migrants. Based on structured interviews, court observation, and in-depth analysis of internal government files obtained through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, this report moves us closer to decriminalizing migration.
**NIJC's Policy Corner are monthly presentations to provide updates on policy matters affecting immigration. These presentations are open to all community members and pro bono attorneys.