In a move that could significantly alter the landscape of immigration enforcement in the United States, Representative Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) has introduced a legislative proposal aimed at curtailing the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) authority to implement immigration laws.
The legislation, known as the Dignity for Detained Immigrants Act, was unveiled in a press release, highlighting Jayapal's collaboration with Representative Adam Smith (D-WA) on this initiative.
According to Breitbart, the bill proposes several sweeping changes to current immigration detention practices. Key provisions include the repeal of mandatory detention and a prohibition on the detention of families and children in family detention centers. The legislation seeks to establish a presumption of release, placing a higher burden of proof on authorities to detain primary caregivers and vulnerable groups, such as pregnant women, survivors of torture or gender-based violence, individuals with serious mental or physical illnesses, LGBTQ individuals, asylum seekers, and those over the age of 60.
Furthermore, the bill outlines a three-year plan to phase out the use of private detention facilities and jails, while mandating DHS to adopt civil detention standards that align with the American Bar Associations Civil Immigration Detention Standards. It also calls for unannounced inspections by the DHS Inspector General, with meaningful penalties for non-compliance, and requires DHS to grant Members of Congress access to detention facilities for unannounced inspections.
During a press conference, Jayapal emphasized the broad support for the bill, stating, Our Dignity for Detained Immigrants Act has a remarkable, unprecedented 123 original co-sponsors before weve even introduced it. One hundred and twenty-three co-sponsors, and it overhauls the detention system. It drastically scales back the use of detention, it ensures that every single immigrant who is in detention has their human and civil rights protected.
Jayapal, who holds a prominent position on the Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement, has been vocal in her criticism of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). As reported by Breitbart Newss John Binder, she has labeled ICE as a terrorist force on multiple occasions. This rhetoric has sparked controversy, particularly following an incident where a gunman, motivated by anti-ICE sentiments, attacked an ICE facility in Dallas, resulting in one death and several injuries. The Federal Bureau of Investigation confirmed the gunman's ideological motive, noting that he had inscribed ANTI ICE on a shell casing.
In July, Jayapal reiterated her stance, describing ICE as a terrorist force in a fundraising email and during an appearance on CNN, where she accused ICE agents of engaging in criminal activities such as kidnapping. She also called for an apology from the Trump administration to U.S. citizens and legal residents who, she claimed, had been unjustly targeted.
Meanwhile, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem has highlighted the Trump administration's aggressive deportation efforts, announcing that over 527,000 illegal aliens have been deported thus far. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin added that the administration is on track to deport nearly 600,000 illegal aliens by the end of Trump's first year back in office, potentially setting new records in immigration enforcement.
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