On Tuesday, four asylum seekers were detained by ICE agents at San Francisco Immigration Court while attending asylum hearings, a move criticized by immigration attorneys as unconstitutional. The DHS justified the detentions as part of a new enforcement policy, claiming a return to the rule of law. However, legal experts argue this contradicts established asylum procedures, especially as none of the detained individuals had criminal records and were fleeing political persecution. The situation highlights the tensions surrounding immigration policies in the U.S. and the legal rights of asylum seekers.
"It's a clear violation of the Constitution and due process rights," Milli Atkinson, an immigration attorney with the SF Bar Association, stated, emphasizing the unprecedented nature of these detentions.
Atkinson pointed out that ICE had previously determined these individuals should pursue asylum, illustrating a disturbing shift in procedure, which she deemed unfounded.
DHS defended the detentions as part of a broader initiative to reestablish the rule of law, countering the previous administration's immigration enforcement approach.
Atkinson highlighted that the arrested individuals were fleeing unstable political situations, indicating the humanitarian angle of their asylum claims.
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