ACLU Comment on Trump Administration Zero Tolerance Policy at Border
WASHINGTON — The Justice Department announced today that it is implementing a “zero-tolerance” policy to prosecute immigrants entering the U.S. at the border.
Cecillia Wang, American Civil Liberties Union deputy legal director, said:
“Attorney General Sessions’ ‘zero tolerance policy’ to criminally prosecute immigrants at the border is the height of irrationality and will cause rampant violations of due process and individual rights to a fair trial. We will almost certainly see asylum seekers prosecuted and parents separated from children to be funneled into the criminal justice system.
“This will be assembly-line justice, where large numbers of defendants are forced through the system without adequate time to consult counsel. This leads to an unacceptably high risk of conviction of people who have a valid defense. This policy will cause skyrocketing incarceration rates, with no upside except for abusive, profiteering private prison companies. It is a massive waste of taxpayer money that damages the federal criminal justice system.”
Stay Informed
Every month, you'll receive regular roundups of the most important civil rights and civil liberties developments. Remember: a well-informed citizenry is the best defense against tyranny.
By completing this form, I agree to receive occasional emails per the terms of the ACLU’s privacy policy.
The Latest in Immigrants' Rights
-
Voting and Immigrants’ Rights Advocates Sue Over New Florida Law That Targets Voter Registration, Civic Engagement, and Political Speech
-
Shen v. Simpson
-
Chinese Immigrants Sue Florida Over Unconstitutional and Discriminatory Law Banning Them From Buying Land
-
Immigrants’ Rights Advocates Sue Biden Administration Over New Asylum Ban
ACLU's Vision
The American Civil Liberties Union is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States of America.
Learn More About Immigrants' Rights
The fundamental constitutional protections of due process and equal protection embodied in our Constitution and Bill of Rights apply to every person, regardless of immigration status.