Border and Enforcement News
The
San Francisco Chronicle reported last week
that a Zimbabwean refugee has filed a federal lawsuit alleging she was refused
the right to apply for asylum in 2002 when she arrived at San Francisco
International Airport and was told by an immigration official to “go back to
the jungle.”
The
plaintiff in the case said she was then wrongfully jailed, strip-searched and
deported. She is currently living in South Africa and the Lawyers’ Committee
for Civil Rights is handling her case. There
was no comment from Border and Customs Patrol.
*****
Although
the Arizona Border Control Initiative, which included the addition of 260
agents, four helicopters, two unmanned aerial drones and expanded detention
space to hold undocumented immigrants, was supposed to get started last week,
plans have changed. According to The
Arizona Republic, because more
than half of the agents have not arrived, officials have decided against
expanding the detention areas and the drones are still on the ground.
Asa
Hutchinson, Homeland Security Undersecretary, has acknowledged that the project
is over budget and behind schedule. He
also said that although this project is not living up to expectations, there has
been some improvement along the Arizona-Mexico border and arrests have increased
significantly since March.
The
problems in the progress of the initiative have been attributed to manpower
limitations as well as technical and training issues relating to the unmanned
drones. Officials have delayed the
first patrol of the drones until June 30.
Disclaimer: This newsletter is provided as a public service and not intended to establish an attorney client relationship. Any reliance on information contained herein is taken at your own risk.