Stay Tuned with Preet Litigating Immigration (with Joyce Vance and Lee Gelernt)
Jan 6, 2025
Lee Gelernt, Deputy Director of the ACLU Immigrants’ Rights Project and a formidable litigator in immigration law, joins Joyce Vance to dissect the potential legal aftermath of Trump's proposed immigration policies. They delve into the traumatic effects of past family separation strategies and the ethical concerns surrounding them. The conversation also highlights the contentious debate over birthright citizenship and the implications of law enforcement changes under the Insurrection Act. Gelernt emphasizes the vital role of community activism in shaping humane immigration reforms.
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Family Separation Trauma
- The family separation policy during Trump's first term separated over 6,000 children from their families, some as young as six months old.
- The policy caused lasting trauma for both parents and children, with many children still separated from their parents years later.
Family Separation as Deterrent
- Family separation aimed to deter asylum seekers, but experts predicted it wouldn't work.
- It also violated basic human decency, sparking national and international outrage.
Dangers Faced by Asylum Seekers
- Asylum seekers often face real dangers like cartel violence, religious persecution, or political persecution, not just economic hardship.
- Opening more pathways for workers could reduce asylum claims from those seeking economic opportunity.