Trump’s Border Czar Considers Family Detention Centers for Deportation
Tom Homan suggests family detention could return under Trump’s plans
Trump, Tom Homan, Deportation, Family Detention, Immigration, USA
Washington: So, Tom Homan, who’s been named Trump’s “border czar,” is saying that family detention centers might be back on the table. He mentioned this possibility recently, hinting that the Biden administration’s decision to end this practice could change soon.
Homan, who used to run ICE, said they’re seriously considering it. He emphasized the need to stop what he calls “catch-and-release,” which is when migrants are let go while waiting for their court dates.
Under Biden, families caught entering the U.S. illegally stopped being detained, but Homan thinks that could shift again. He’s all about getting more immigration judges to these centers if they go ahead with this plan.
Remember the “zero tolerance” policy from Trump’s first term? That one caused a lot of uproar because it led to kids being separated from their parents. Homan claims that won’t be a big part of the new deportation efforts, which is a relief to hear.
He also mentioned a court ruling that limits how long kids can be held, which complicates things. Homan thinks they might need to challenge that ruling to make family detention work.
He’s looking at the data to figure out how many facilities they might need. Homan described these places as “open-air campuses” for families, not like jails.
Interestingly, he said they wouldn’t consider whether undocumented parents have U.S. citizen kids. If parents lose their cases, they’ll have to decide whether to take their kids with them or leave them with relatives.
Homan didn’t hold back on criticizing local governments that are trying to protect undocumented immigrants. He’s determined to move forward with the deportation plan, regardless of what those localities do.
On the other side, the ACLU is ready to challenge any unconstitutional parts of this plan. They’ve fought against family detention before and are prepared to do it again if necessary.
Lee Gelernt from the ACLU pointed out that the public generally doesn’t want kids stuck in detention centers for long periods. He’s hopeful that people will push back against targeting families.
Trump’s been vocal about his plans to deport undocumented individuals, especially those with criminal records. He’s called migrants an “invasion,” but some Republicans are trying to soften that rhetoric after his election win.
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com.