Source: Immigration Impact
While humanitarian arguments against detaining families may be fairly obvious, the impact of family detention on due process cannot be overstated. A recent report by the American Immigration Council details the impact that family detention has on access to counsel and ultimate success in immigration proceedings. Policymakers must take this into account and advocate for use of alternatives to detention.
“The thousands of family members included in the study faced serious barriers accessing the court system and a fair asylum process. Notably, the report finds that access to legal representation is limited in detention and in fast-track removal proceedings. Having counsel is critical when navigating the U.S. immigration system—and may be the difference between life and death for an asylum seeker.”