House Democrats call for investigation into border officials giving asylum-seekers fake court dates

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A letter spearheaded by members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and signed by dozens of additional House Democrats is demanding that the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General open an investigation into a recent report that U.S. border officials have blocked asylum-seekers who have been waiting in Mexico under Trump policy from reentering the U.S., even after they’ve won their cases.

Advocates told BuzzFeed News earlier this month that border officials’ actions have been an intentional effort to keep asylum-seekers out of the U.S. In at least one instance, officials even issued an asylum-seeker a fake immigration court date as part of their effort to prolong his wait in Mexico. In their letter, Reps. Tony Cárdenas​ of California, Lou Correa of California, Veronica Escobar of Texas, and more than 50 House Democrats demanded answers.

The members wrote, “The fact that federal government officials are putting people at risk and forcing refugees who have been granted asylum to remain in Mexico is unacceptable. CBP officials are allegedly providing fraudulent documents to refugees who have already been adjudicated as needing protection in an effort to dissuade them from staying in the country. Even CBP Acting Commissioner Mark Morgan recently stated, ‘that [fake documents] shouldn’t be happening.’ We need immediate answers about these practices.”

Asylum-seeker Francisco won his case after he recounted how he was interrogated, beaten, and threatened by Cuban officials with forced disappearance. But when he presented his court documents at a U.S. port of entry several days after the ruling, his attorney said, he was instead given a fake court date for January and blocked. Lisa Koop told BuzzFeed News that the Trump administration’s action lay “bare the true intent” of Remain in Mexico, “which is quite simply to end asylum for all peoples in all circumstances.”

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2019/12/23/1907541/-House-Democrats-call-for-investigation-into-border-officials-giving-asylum-seekers-fake-court-dates