TO DO: Immigration/Civil Rights
Source: Americans for Immigrant Justice

Please show your support for improving treatment and conditions in U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) custody by endorsing the attached letter.  Senator Barbara Boxer has introduced Amendment #1260 to S.744, the Border Security, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Modernization Act of 2013, which would require CBP to write and follow regulations setting standards for CBP custody (see attached).  These regulations would cover basic humane treatment for detainees such as provision of food, emergency medical care, translated legal documents, timely transfers and access to facilities by non-governmental organizations.

We are hopeful that the Amendment will be brought up for a vote this week.  With strong support from immigration organizations, faith leaders and others, there is a real possibility this Amendment will be adopted.  The attached letter focuses on the poor conditions in facilities on the border, the impact on asylum-seekers and the language of the Amendment.  

The deadline for sign on is 4:00 p.m., Tuesday June 18, 2013.  

We are only able to accommodate organizational endorsements at this time.   Please reply to this email to sign on or email Joanne Kelsey at jkelsey@aijustice.org.   We apologize for the short time for sign-on and thank you in advance for your support! 

Protect the Human and Civil Rights of Migrants and U.S. Citizens held in U.S. Customs and Border Protection Custody

June 16, 2013

The Honorable Harry Reid

Majority Leader

United States Senate

522 Hart Senate Office Building

Washington, DC 20510

The Honorable Mitch McConnell

Minority Leader

United States Senate

317 Russell Senate Office Building

Washington, DC 20510

RE:  Protecting Human and Civil Rights of Migrants and U.S. Citizens in S. 744.

Dear Majority Leader Reid, Minority Leader McConnell and Senators:

We strongly urge you to support an amendment to S.744, the Border Security, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Modernization Act of 2013 which would create protections for U.S. Citizens and others held in U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) custody.  Senator Boxer has introduced Amendment #1260 which would require the Department of Homeland Security to promulgate regulations regarding standards in CBP custody.  These regulations would cover basic humane treatment such as the provision of food, emergency medical care, translated legal documents, timely transfers and access to facilities by non-governmental organizations.  

In recent years, CBP has routinely violated its own policies and committed grave civil and human rights abuses against both migrants and U.S. Citizens held in CBP facilities. These abuses include verbal abuse, denial of medical care, inadequate food and water, exposure to extreme temperatures causing physical harm to detainees, bright lights 24 hours per day making it impossible to sleep, overcrowding and permanent confiscation of important personal items including legal documents, medication and personal identification.

Detainees are often encouraged to sign documents written only in English which are neither translated nor explained to them.  These documents are orders for expedited removal which mean that immigrants can be immediately deported without a chance to apply for asylum or other means of staying in the country.   In fact, many legitimate asylum seekers who have already endured violence and trauma and come to the United States to seek safety, have unknowingly signed these orders.

We are a diverse group of faith, civil rights and human rights organizations who believe this is a human rights issue which must be addressed.  Our groups are not alone: in a recent poll of registered voters, over 90% of respondents—regardless of party affiliation—said they support creating “greater oversight and accountability” of CBP.  This straightforward amendment would help to achieve this oversight.

We strongly urge you to support Senator Boxer’s amendment (#1260) requiring the Department of Homeland Security to promulgate regulations establishing short-term custody standards providing for the basic minimum care at all CBP facilities holding individuals in custody.

Sincerely,