My message to Attorney General Jeff Sessions, submitted at USDoJ online comments
To AG Sessions: I am trying to understand the logic of your “zero tolerance” policy and intervention in the specific asylum case of an abused woman. It would be best if I could discuss this with you on the phone (503-789-5107); however, I know this will never happen.
You are changing U.S. immigration policy, something that is a responsibility of Congress. Your policies are causing tremendous harm to persons now being incarcerated and prosecuted - for civil, not criminal infractions - and causing long-lasting harm to children separated from their parents and incarcerated. These are cruel, inhumane, un-American and at least borderline racist actions on your part. These penalties do not fit the alleged crimes committed by desperate people.
The justification for your actions - to send a message not to come into the United States, and not to bring children if you do try - is invalid. You are using children as political pawns in a cruel game. I agree that we need to fix our immigration system and policies; however, this is the role of Congress, not the AG instituting draconian policies that punish innocent people.
Thank you for reading. Please reverse your bad policies immediately and work with Congress to solve the immigration issues.
(Note: the abused wife case I referenced above is a Salvadoran woman who has been in the US for many years working her way through the courts to gain asylum status. She was the victim of domestic abuse by her ex-husband, and the Salvadoran police and justice system would not help her. AG Sessions has intervened in her case to make an example; he has recently announced that domestic violence and gang violence will not be reasons to grant asylum in this country. A good article is here.)
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