Washington, DC – January 25, 2017 – The new administration announced today the signing of several inhumane and draconian executive orders intended to endanger immigrants and create fear in immigrant communities. The executive orders include a promise to withhold federal funding to sanctuary cities, greatly increase the number of immigration enforcement officers and border patrol officers, resurrect the controversial Secure Communities program, create new deportation priorities, and to increase detention—including children and families—at the border.

Asian Americans Advancing Justice (Advancing Justice), an affiliation of five civil rights organizations, released a statement regarding the administration’s announcement.

Advancing Justice is outraged by these targeted attacks on our communities that seek to scapegoat and marginalize immigrants, refugees, Muslim Americans and other communities of color. These harmful policies will waste billions of dollars, cause harm in communities across the country, and undermine our American values of liberty, due process, and equality. (more…)

CHICAGO – January 25, 2016 – Today, President Trump signed two executive actions purporting to strengthen border security and immigration enforcement, including building further border barriers and stripping funding from municipalities that have “sanctuary” or “welcoming” ordinances in place. “Enhanced border enforcement will not address the issues within our broken immigration system,” said Lawrence Benito, chief executive officer of Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR). “Migration from Mexico has been net zero for the past several years, and the Border Patrol is already the largest law enforcement agency in the country. Additionally, federal courts have already and consistently ruled that under our Constitution, cities can refuse to cooperate with immigration enforcement, and the federal government to withhold funds from local municipalities to force them to collaborate. If Trump follows through on this threat, he will see us in court.” (more…)