We all want to live in a country with safe communities. One that protects people seeking safety and affords them due process and direct legal representation. Yet, President Trump’s immigration priorities violate core United States values and demand immediate resistance from all who believe in the rule of law and human dignity.

Here’s what you need to know…

Reinstating “Remain in Mexico” – President Trump may order the reinstatement of the failed “Remain in Mexico” program. The program was a human rights disaster that forced people to live in inhumane and dangerous conditions in Mexico while waiting to apply for asylum. Those waiting were unable to access lawyers or their families. Thousands of assaults were documented against people seeking safety in the United States, facing nothing but more violence. “Remain in Mexico” must not be reinstated.

Militarizing Communities – President Trump is setting the stage to militarize the already broken immigration system. He wants to use the military to enforce immigration laws and deport people. It is a longstanding legal precedent that separates the military from civilian law enforcement. Breaking down this important barrier is dangerous and will result in the separation of families, violence against immigrants, and the loss of civil rights.

Attacks on Asylum – President Trump says he will shut down asylum at the Southern Border. This is an absurd attempt to win political points that will endanger people’s lives. Asylum is a human right, codified into our laws and international treaties. Attempts to ban asylum will always be met with fierce litigation to ensure the rights of people seeking safety. Those fleeing torture and persecution and seeking safety in the U.S. should never be turned away at our border.

“Catch and Release” – President Trump wants to end the so-called “catch and release” practice. What this actually refers to is persistent legislation from Congress acknowledging the government cannot detain every immigrant that they come in contact with while they await a hearing. The U.S. already has the highest rate of detaining immigrants in the world and spends billions of dollars on its mass detention apparatus. There are also over 3.5 million cases in the immigration court backlog. Prolonged detention that would occur without allowing the government to release people would be inhumane and extremely harmful.

Mass Deportation – President Trump wants to deport “millions and millions” of immigrants. His policies to carry out “mass deportation” will destroy families and communities. There is no way to deport this number of people without weaponizing law enforcement, turning neighborhoods into a police state, and increasing immigration detention. These proposed attacks on our clients and communities will cost hundreds of billions of dollars. We condemn this policy and the hatred that fuels it.

What you can do:

Stay tuned for more information on the impact of these harmful policies as our attorneys analyze them over the next few days. Help spread the word about the truth of these devastating policy attacks on our immigrant neighbors.

Donate now to help us mobilize legal teams that will provide free direct legal support to immigrants facing detention and deportation and challenge these harmful new policies through strategic litigation.