Tahirih Files Lawsuit Challenging the Use of CBP to Conduct Credible Fear Interviews

by Tahirih Justice Center

Washington, D.C. - April 2, 2020 - (The Ponder News) -- The Tahirih Justice Center filed a lawsuit in federal court challenging the use of Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) agents to screen asylum seekers for their ‘credible fear’ of persecution. This policy change violates federal immigration law and was enacted by officials who did not have the authority to do so. The lawsuit is filed on behalf of women and children currently detained at the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley. Tahirih has also sought information on this clandestine policy through a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit to compel the government to release records on this troubling practice.

“Credible fear interviews are supposed to be the non-adversarial, first step in the extensive asylum process, in which asylum seekers who have experienced severe violence recount intimate details of their persecution. For decades, these interviews have been conducted by asylum officers, specially trained to work with individuals who have experienced trauma,” said Julie Carpenter, Tahirih Senior Litigation Counsel. “Using Border Patrol—federal law enforcement officers whose mission is to capture and detain immigrants—to conduct these immediate interviews intentionally puts the fate of survivors of gender-based violence, and other asylum seekers, in the hands of agents who lack the necessary expertise in asylum law.”

Impeachment, Teachers, Natural Disaster Relief, NDAA, Border Patrol, Jones Act, SALT, Prescription Drugs, Discrimination, Boeing

Congressional spending may be even more insane than impeachment
Source: Americans for Limited Government
December 20, 2019
“Now that some of the smoke has cleared from impeachment, it cannot be lost that Congress once again failed miserably at showing any kind of fiscal discipline in passing the $1.4 trillion spending bill. It is absurd that in a time of unprecedented prosperity, Congress continues to expand domestic spending. Times of prosperity should be opportunities to cut deficits and restrain the cost of government programs, while still meeting the basic safety net needs of those left behind. The fact that Congress continues a wild spending spree bodes poorly for our nation’s ability to afford the real costs of an economic downturn that will eventually happen. The President needs to make fiscal sanity a key component of his 2020 presidential campaign so that in 2021, there will be a political will to significantly cut the exorbitant cost of government. He can start by promoting and defending his own budget, which has in the past provided a pathway to balance with trillions of cuts, when it gets released early next year.”

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Congressman Brown Celebrates the Expansion of Teacher Tax Deduction
Source: Anthony Brown (D-MD, 4th)
December 20, 2019
“Teachers and school support staff dig deep into their own pockets to pay for everyday classroom supplies - and educators in high-poverty communities spend even more, said Congressman Anthony Brown. “After protecting the teachers’ tax deduction from being cut by President Trump, House Democrats are expanding it and helping teachers offset more of the costs they incur every school year. I’ll keep fighting for our schools, our educators and increasing this deduction to meet the needs of our students.”

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CARTWRIGHT BILLS TO MAKE U.S. COMMUNITIES MORE RESILIENT AGAINST EXTREME WEATHER RISKS INCLUDED IN FEDERAL FUNDING LEGISLATION
Source: Matt Cartwright (D-PA, 8th)
December 20, 2019
“As a Member of the House Armed Services Committee and the House-Senate NDAA Conference Committee, I’m proud to have worked with my Republican and Democratic colleagues to get the NDAA across the finish line,” said Rep. Cisneros. “With the passage of this legislation, our servicemembers and their families get the resources they need and our national security is strengthened. I’m pleased the bipartisan NDAA includes several of my provisions to improve military healthcare and service to military families, promote diversity and inclusion, repeal the unfair Widow’s Tax, and toughen our stance against our adversaries. As a Navy veteran, I will continue to fight for our servicemembers in the 39th District and around the world.”

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REP. CISNEROS PRAISES SIGNING OF FY 2020 NDAA
Source: Gilbert Cisneros (D-CA, 39th)
December 20, 2019
The appropriations legislation includes language from Rep. Cartwright’s PREPARE Act (H.R. 4347), which authorizes an interagency council whose purpose is to provide recommendations on the best means of planning and preparing for extreme weather incidents. It also provides state and local stakeholders with the best information available and best practices to help them formulate emergency preparation plans tailored to their local needs.

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Cole Applauds Full-Year Government Funding for FY 2020
Source: Tom Cole (R-OK, 4th)
December 20, 2019
“One of the most fundamental duties of Congress is to fund the government and to keep it open and operational. By coming to bipartisan agreement on full-year appropriations, I am very proud that lawmakers in both chambers not only prevented a government shutdown, but they avoided the need for another short-term continuing resolution. I applaud President Trump for signing these critical packages into law, responsibly providing certainty for the federal government and the thousands of supporting federal workers.”

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Burgess Votes to Pass Defense Appropriations for 2020 Fiscal Year
Source: Michael Burgess (R-TX, 26th)
December 20, 2019
“While one of the appropriations bills included critical funding the other left hardworking Americans with the check. It is past time for Congress to pass twelve appropriations bills, as required by law. We can no longer afford to wait until the last minute to complete one of our most basic, and important, responsibilities. I believe I was sent to Congress to provide fiscal solutions that will rein in our national deficit while continuing to grow our economy, allowing for hard-working families to prosper. My desire is that in the coming year Congress will put aside partisan politics and get back to the business of legislating on behalf of the American people.”

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The Fiscal Year 2020 Appropriations packages included the following:

Prioritizes national security and continues to rebuild the military.

Provides $1.3 billion for a border wall system along our southern border.

Provides resources and authorities to address the humanitarian and security crisis on our southern border.

Maintains prior pro-life funding restrictions.

Provides affordable alternatives to expensive Obamacare plans.

Butterfield Introduces Bill to Provide Electronic Equipment to American Communities
Source: G.K. Butterfield (D-NC, 1st)
December 20, 2019
“In today’s digital economy, access to the Internet is absolutely essential for nearly all aspects of American life. However, all over the country, millions of Americans still do not have consistent and reliable access to broadband. The problem is especially prevalent in rural and low-income communities where the costs of computers and other devices are often a barrier to consistent access. That’s why I was proud to introduce H.R. 5495, The Federal Electronic Equipment Donation Act of 2019. My bill directs federal agencies to donate excess and surplus federal electronic equipment, including computers, computer components, printers, and fax machines to qualifying small towns, counties, schools, nonprofit organizations, and libraries. The bill also provides a preference for rural towns and counties as well as low-income areas, in an effort to deliver much needed electronic equipment to the communities that need it most.”

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Cárdenas, Correa, Escobar Call for Investigation into Reports of CBP Officials Issuing Fake Court Notices to Asylees
Source: Troy Cardenas (D-CA, 29th)
December 20, 2019
“According to news reports, refugees who have been granted asylum are intentionally being given incorrect information by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials as a strategy to keep them out of the U.S. This type of behavior by a government agency is abhorrent, violates the rule of law, and is antithetical to our values and the very essence of what we stand for as a nation,” the Members wrote. “We request that DHS Inspector General answer our questions, investigate this matter, and issue a full report to the United States House of Representatives. Additionally, if the investigation finds that officials are criminally liable, we demand that they are held accountable immediately and referred to the Department of Justice for prosecution.

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Case Introduces Bills Reforming the "Jones Act"
Source: Ed Case (D-HI, 1st)
December 20, 2019
“My three bills aim directly at one of the key drivers of our astronomically high cost of living in Hawai‘i and other locations in our country that are not part of the continental U.S,” said Case. “Because the Jones Act severely limits the supply of shipping to and from our communities, it has allowed a very few companies to control our very lifeline to the outside world and as a result command shipping rates way higher than the rest of the world."

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Casten Votes to Restore State and Local Tax Deduction
Source: Sean Casten (D-IL, 6th)
December 20, 2019
H.R. 5377 would lift the SALT cap deduction for years 2020 and 2021. The Republican Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 capped the SALT deduction at $10,000 for individuals and families, but not businesses. Republicans took this deduction away from working, middle class families, like those in Illinois 6th Congressional District, to provide tax breaks for corporations. The cap also threatens the ability of states and local communities to fund education and other essential public services adequately. By restoring the SALT deduction, it helps state and local governments adequately plan and fund education, child care, mass transit, health care, and many more important public services.

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Cicilline Bill to Lower Prescription Drug Costs Becomes Law
Source: David Cicilline (D-RI, 1st)
December 20, 2019
“In the last election, Democrats promised to bring down the high cost of prescription drugs. Today, we are delivering on that promise,” said Cicilline. “The CREATES Act cracks down on the big pharmaceutical companies that are charging an arm and a leg for medicine that thousands of Rhode Islanders, and millions of Americans, need. No longer will these companies be able to recklessly block or delay access to generic drugs that perform the same as branded drugs, at a fraction of the cost. This is a big win for American consumers, and another example of how Democrats are delivering for the people.”

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Congressman Cleaver Calls for Investigation Into JPMorgan Chase Following Allegations of Racial Discrimination
Source: Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO, 5th)
December 20, 2019
“The allegations of racial discrimination within JPMorgan Chase purported in media reports are extremely troubling,” said Congressman Cleaver. “It seems clear from the reporting and the statement released from the bank that there were practices of discriminatory behavior within a regional branch. Now, we want to know whether or not this kind of discrimination has spread throughout the entirety of the company and what the bank is doing to ensure they are complying with federal antidiscrimination laws.”

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Cleaver's Statement Following Votes to Pass Articles of Impeachment
Source: Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO, 5th)
December 20, 2019
My votes to support the articles of impeachment were not based out of hate for the President, but rather out of love for this country and the values imbued in our constitution. Sadly, the President perverted the powers granted to him by the constitution in an effort to coerce a foreign government into interfering in our sacred elections. When this was discovered and courageously reported by a nonpartisan career service official, the President stonewalled Congress and our constitutional right to provide oversight of the Executive Branch, seemingly, to cover up his misdeeds.

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PARTISAN IMPEACHMENT CHARADE DIVIDES COUNTRY; CONGRESS MUST DO BETTER
Source: James Comer (R-KY, 1st)
December 23, 2019
Kentuckians are even less supportive of the effort to remove the President from office. As I said on the House floor, the people I represent in Kentucky’s First Congressional District are appalled at the charade put on by the House in recent months. They overwhelmingly supported the President in 2016 to drain the swamp, enact change and fight on their behalf, which he has done. America’s economy is roaring like never before, the taxes of all Americans have been reduced, and President Trump recently sealed the deal on a modernized trade agreement that is great news for our farmers, middle-class workers and industries.

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Congressman Cohen Commends Boeing for Firing Muilenburg
Source: Steve Cohen (D-TN, 9th)
December 23, 2019
Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a senior member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, commended Boeing for its decision to fire its CEO Dennis Muilenburg for his mishandling of the company’s response to two crashes of its 737 Max aircraft that killed 346 people. Congressman Cohen demanded that Muilenburg take some responsibility for the crashes and the response at a hearing in October, asking “What does accountability mean?”

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Border Security

Today's News About Border Security

Defund Hate Coalition Rejects Calls for Additional ICE and CBP Funding
by: Defund Hate Watch Network
May 1, 2019
“We reject calls for any additional funding for ICE, CBP, and other agencies involved in immigrant detention and processing, who already have bloated budgets to carry out the Trump administration’s mass deportation campaign.

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NIJC Urges Members Of Congress To Reject White House Request For More Money For Immigration Jails And Border Militarization
by: National Immigrant Justice Center
May 1, 2019
“Congress must not fall for this administration’s rhetoric that building more prisons and infrastructure to block asylum seekers and other immigrants from protection is somehow ‘humanitarian aid,’” said NIJC Executive Director Mary Meg McCarthy. “Conflating this administration’s policies with real humanitarian aid is an insult to the communities and humanitarian organizations who have actually worked to support the people whose lives have been torn apart by violence and, increasingly, by the U.S. government’s failed anti-immigrant policies. We call on members of Congress to dismiss this request out of hand.”

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Border Situation Requires Long-term Solutions
by: Immigration Forum
May 1, 2019
The White House has requested $4.5 billion in emergency aid from Congress to address the increasing number of migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border, highlighting the dire need for sustainable solutions.

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Chairman Thompson Statement on the Emergency Supplemental Budget Request
by: Committee on Homeland Security
May 1, 2019
“House Democrats understand that there is a humanitarian crisis at the border, and we stand ready and willing to provide necessary resources to help fix this challenge and alleviate the suffering of thousands. But this crisis is one largely of the Trump Administration’s own making, and we will not appropriate more funds that will add to the chaos and make the problem worse. We cannot forget that this Administration has acted in bad faith when it comes to all issues related to the border.

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CWS Denounces Trump’s Plan to Dismantle Asylum Protections for Families Seeking Safety
by: Church World Service
May 1, 2019
Asylum saves lives. President Trump will stop at nothing to block families fleeing violence from their right to rebuild their lives in safety. A great nation, the most generous nation in the world, does not punish or charge families who have lost everything for life-saving protection. The president’s proposed restrictions are heartless and un-American.

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Members of Congress Visit the U.S.-Mexico Border in Yuma, Arizona
by: Andy Biggs (R-AZ, 5th)
April 24, 2019
Last week, Congressman Andy Biggs led a congressional delegation to the U.S.-Mexico border to better understand the escalating crisis caused by illegal immigration. Congressman Biggs was joined by Rep. Matt Gaetz, Rep. Sean Duffy, Rep. John Joyce, Rep. Duncan Hunter, Rep. Dusty Johnson, and Rep. Pete Stauber. During the trip, the delegation met with Angel parents, Border Patrol agents, DEA officials, ICE agents, Immigration Court judges, and Customs officers. Members of the delegation released the following statements:

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Trump makes new threat to send soldiers to US-Mexico border
by: Senator Michael F. Bennet (D-CO)
April 24, 2019
President Donald Trump made a new threat Wednesday to send armed soldiers to the U.S.-Mexico border.

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Texas border experts call foul on rules of engagement for troops at border
by: Conservative Review
April 24, 2019
Mexican soldiers detaining and disarming our active-duty soldiers on our own soil is a bigger story than what either the government or media is making of it. We spend roughly $716 billion on the military every year and spent trillions in the Middle East, but our own territory remains unsafe not only for our ranchers, but evidently for our own active-duty military.

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Militia leader at the border said members were training to kill Obama, Clinton and Soros, FBI said
by: Washington Post
April 23, 2019
The leader of an armed militia that scours the southern border for undocumented migrants had once claimed that his group was training to assassinate former president Barack Obama, former secretary of state Hillary Clinton and billionaire Democratic donor George Soros, the FBI said.

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Armed volunteer militia group detains migrants at the border
by: Mass Live
April 20, 2019
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) wants members of a volunteer militia group arrested for detaining immigrants at gunpoint and impersonating U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

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Udall, Heinrich Statement on Militia Group Illegally Operating in New Mexico

by: Senator Martin Heinrich (D-NM)

Washington, D.C. - April 23, 2019 - (The Ponder News) -- U.S. Senators Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) issued the following statement in response to reports of a militia group illegally detaining migrant families and asylum seekers at the border in New Mexico:

“Reports of a militia group illegally operating in New Mexico and intimidating asylum seekers must be immediately investigated by the proper authorities. Vigilante groups attempting to utilize authorities reserved for law enforcement cannot be tolerated. Threatening innocent children and families fleeing violence and seeking asylum is unacceptable and flies in the face of our values as a state and a nation. We will closely monitor this situation and work with local and federal authorities to ensure a full investigation, and that public safety and the rule of law is upheld.”

President Proposes to Close the U.S. – Mexico Border

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by: Lizzie Fletcher (D-TX, 7th)

Washington, D.C. - April 4, 2019 - (The Ponder News) -- Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) released the following statement concerning President Trump’s proposal to close the United States – Mexico border:

“Closing the United States-Mexico border is not a solution — it is a problem,” said Rep. Fletcher. “In Texas alone, trade with Mexico represents an estimated $180 billion each year—and more than a third of Texas’ exports. And it’s not just Texas. Closing the border will negatively affect large sectors of the American economy. While we need to address border security and immigration matters, closing the border is simply not a responsible way to address these important issues.”

Congresswoman Fletcher serves as co-chair of the Trade Task Force in the New Democrat Coalition.

Office Of The Governor Offers Reward In Murder Case Of Texas Border Patrol Agent

Austin, TX - November 27, 2017 (The Ponder News) -- Governor Greg Abbott has authorized a reward up to $20,000 through the Texas Crime Stoppers program for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the murder of a U.S. Border Patrol agent and the serious injury of another. All tips are guaranteed to be anonymous.

Agent Rogelio Martinez died Sunday as a result of injuries sustained while on patrol in the Big Bend area. His partner, who was injured, remains in the hospital in serious condition.

“We owe a great deal of gratitude to the brave men and women of the United States Border Patrol who serve every day to protect our homeland,” said Governor Abbott. “Cecilia and I offer our deepest condolences to the families of the agents killed and seriously injured in this attack. As authorities continue their investigation, it is important that they receive any and all information to help apprehend and deliver swift justice to those responsible.”

To be eligible for the cash rewards, anyone with information on fugitives can provide anonymous tips in three different ways:

Call the Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-252-TIPS (8477)

Text the letters ‘DPS’ - followed by your tip - to 274637 (CRIMES) from your cell phone

Submit a web tip by visiting https://www.tipsubmit.com/WebTipsCSI.aspx?L=E&AgencyID=650.

Texas Crime Stoppers is a program within the Office of the Governor under the Criminal Justice Division (and administered by the Texas Department of Public Safety) that encourages, supports and fosters the development of local crime stoppers organizations as a way to prevent crime. This grant is provided under the Crime Stoppers Fallen Hero Reward program.


See more headlines at The Ponder News Web Site

Customs and Border Protection agent dies after being injured in west Texas

Source: Los Angeles Times

One U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent was killed and another seriously injured Sunday while responding to suspicious activity in the west Texas Big Bend area, officials said.

Agent Rogelio Martinez, 36, and his partner, whose name was not released, were injured and taken to a hospital, officials said. Martinez died and his partner was in serious condition.

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Lofgren & Conyers: detention of 10-year-old disabled child unjust and inhumane

Source: Zoe Lofgren (D-CA, 19th)



Washington, D.C. - October 27, 2017 (The Ponder News) -- Following reports that a ten-year-old disabled child was taken into custody by Border Patrol agents immediately after emergency surgery at the Driscoll’s Children hospital in Corpus Christi, U.S. Representatives Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) and John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.) wrote to Acting Homeland Security Secretary Elaine Duke today raising concerns that the child’s detention is unjust, inhumane, and will create community-wide fear resulting in immigrants not seeking medical care, even for their children.

According to news reports, Rosamaria Hernandez was brought to the United States as a three-month-old baby. She suffers from cerebral palsy, and was detained after her ambulance crossed a Border Patrol checkpoint traveling from Laredo to Corpus Chirsti. Border Patrol agents followed her to the hospital and waited outside her hospital room.

The letter reads:

“The Trump Administration has repeatedly told the American people that DHS enforcement efforts regarding immigration detention and deportation would focus on the “bad hombres” and the “gang members.” Rosamaria Hernandez is neither. She is a vulnerable, disabled child who recently underwent a surgical operation. She needs to be with her family and not in immigration custody.

“This is yet another example of the Trump Administration failing to follow DHS Sensitive Locations guidelines. The DHS Sensitive Location memo states that enforcement actions shall not occur at hospitals unless there are exigent circumstances. These exigent circumstances include national security, terrorism, an imminent risk of death, violence or physical harm, or an imminent danger to public safety.

“In this case, this vulnerable child presented no risk of terrorism, danger to the community, nor to the public safety. On the contrary, DHS’s decision to detain a 10-year-old child with cerebral palsy who just received emergency surgery only risks the child’s life and her well-being. It increases her risk of post-operative infection and medical complications.”

A link to the full letter is here.

Zoe Lofgren is the Senior Democrat on the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security. John Conyers Jr. is the Senior Democrat on the full House Judiciary Committee.