Is it true that crossing the border illegally is a misdemeanor?

[LakeVermilion]

I heard that on MSNBC this morning, I wanted to make sure.

If that is true, its an all time low to separate families for misdemeanor. Furthermore, to not be able to deal with this in a week is shameful.

[Lint Head]

1. It is a misdemeanor and actually seeking asylum is not even illegal.

[Ron Obvious]

2. Only if you haven't been deported before

Then it's a felony.

[duforsure]

3. What trump is doing is illegal

And what he claims is false. Even his executive order was falsely promoted , and a previous ruling will soon show they can't hold families like they're doing. trump is a serial liar , and as corrupt a person that could ever have been illegally and illegitimately elected. He's going down, just a matter of when not if. These types never last , not in this country. He also hurts the ones closest (his supporters ) the most, and they haven't a clue of how brutal he'll become towards them.

[LakeVermilion]

4. Thanks all!

[democratisphere]

5. The Goverment of the United States is completely disfunctional

and unable to respond to anything efficiently and effectively! Expect nothing until drumpf and the redumbliCONS are gone!

[malthaussen]

6. Well, let's look at the texts, shall we?

Text of the XO: https://www.politico.com/story/2018/06/20/full-text-trump-executive-order-family-separations-transcript-658639

Text of 8 USC 1325 referred to in the XO: https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/8/1325

Note that Mr Trump's order enforces illegal entry as a criminal offense under (a), not a civil offense as in (b). There appears to be some ambiguity in section 1325, since "Illegal Time and Place" is listed as both a criminal and civil offense. Apparently, the custom heretofore has been to only enforce the civil provisions in (b). Note that section 1325 does not specify the crime of illegal entry as either misdemeanor or felony.

"All time low?" I'm afraid you ain't seen nothin' yet.

-- Mal

[RandomAccess]

7. Not only that

It's my understanding that by both US and International law, people are legally allowed to seek asylum if they have "credible fear" of persecution in their home countries. They should be given an opportunity to plead their case about that credible fear before a court and be granted asylum if found "credible."

BUT --

Trump & Sessions have CLOSED most of the legal entry points, or only allow a small handful of people through, thus forcing asylum seekers (who've just spent a month or more trying to get here under pretty damned difficult conditions) to cross at illegal points, thus committing a misdemeanor.

He is thus criminalizing asylum seekers. And the new "zero tolerance" policy prosecutes them ALL.

Meanwhile they've stolen the children without good records or any plans whatsoever to reunite them, and scattered them to the winds -- all over the damn place, from Maine and NYC to Miami, and all kinds of other spots in the US.