Judge weighs new US policy keeping asylum seekers locked up

Source: Associated Press

SEATTLE (AP) — Immigrant rights activists on Friday asked a U.S. judge to block a new Trump administration policy that would keep thousands of asylum seekers locked up while they pursue their cases, instead of giving them a chance to be released on bond.

Attorney General William Barr announced the policy in April as part of the administration’s efforts to deter a surge of migrants at the Mexico border, and it is scheduled to take effect July 15.

It targets immigrants who have recently entered the U.S. without permission and have demonstrated to an immigration officer that they have a credible fear of persecution or torture if returned to their home country.

For the past 50 years, the government has given such asylum seekers bond hearings before immigration judges where they can argue that they should be released because they are not flight risks and pose no threat to the public, according to court documents filed by the ACLU, American Immigration Council and the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project.

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By GENE JOHNSON
an hour ago


Read more: https://apnews.com/645b8be25ad646418c6487b197d44e54