AMERICANS FOR IMMIGRANT JUSTICE INC F/K/A FLA IMMIGRANT ADVOCACY CENTER

ADVOCACYA FEDERAL JUDGE BLOCKED #SB168, AN ANTI-IMMIGRATION BILL AIMED AT BANNING SANCTUARY CITIES IN FLORIDA. PORTIONS OF THE LAW WERE DECLARED UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND DISCRIMINATORY. AI JUSTICE SERVED AS A PLAINTIFF ORGANIZATION IN THE LITIGATION.AS PART OF A WORKING GROUP, AI JUSTICE AND PARTNERS PREPARED COMPLAINTS TO THE DHS OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS AND CIVIL LIBERTIES (CRCL) REGARDING THE CONDITIONS AT BAKER COUNTY DETENTION CENTER, DUE TO DOCUMENTED INSTANCES OF PHYSICAL ASSAULT, RACIST HARASSMENT, AND ONGOING RETALIATION FOR PUBLIC REPORTING. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH VARIOUS OTHER LEGAL SERVICES ORGANIZATIONS, AI JUSTICE BROUGHT A LAWSUIT AGAINST IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT (ICE) FOR UNLAWFULLY PREVENTING ATTORNEYS FROM COMMUNICATING WITH IMMIGRANTS DETAINED IN FOUR DETENTION FACILITIES IN FLORIDA, LOUISIANA, TEXAS, AND ARIZONA. THE COMPLAINT DETAILS NUMEROUS OBSTACLES ATTORNEYS FACE IN ATTEMPTING TO COMMUNICATE WITH DETAINED PEOPLE AT THE KROME SERVICE PROCESSING CENTER IN MIAMI, FLORIDA, INCLUDING NO ACCESS TO PRIVATE, CONFIDENTIAL ATTORNEY CALLS, NUMEROUS LIMITATIONS ON IN-PERSON LEGAL VISITS, AND BARRIERS TO ARRANGING INTERPRETATION SERVICES, ALL OF WHICH NEGATIVELY IMPACT LEGAL REPRESENTATION. IN MAY OF 2023 AI JUSTICE PUBLISHED "IMMIGRATION STATE OF PLAY POST-TITLE 42" AN INFORMATIONAL REPORT HIGHLIGHTING THE ADMINISTRATION'S EFFORTS TO DETER IMMIGRANTS FROM ENTERING THE UNITED STATES WITHOUT DOCUMENTATION, ENFORCE IMMIGRATION LAW, AND ENGAGE IN DIPLOMACY AIMED AT ADDRESSING MIGRATION IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE AFTER THE EXPIRATION OF TITLE 42. AI JUSTICE HAS TRACKED THE IMPLEMENTATION OF FERM SINCE IT WAS ANNOUNCED IN MAY 2023. WE QUICKLY STOOD UP A LEGAL ORIENTATION HOTLINE AND BEGAN ACCEPTING CASES FOR PREP AND REP. WE CONDUCTED NUMEROUS INSTANCES OF INDIVIDUAL CLIENT ADVOCACY REGARDING ENROLLMENT OF INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES, RARE LANGUAGES, MEDICAL ISSUES, ETC. WE ALSO BEGAN A LISTSERV FOR PRACTITIONERS REPRESENTING FERM FAMILIES AND BEGAN TO HOST BI-WEEKLY (AND THEN MONTHLY) FERM WORKING GROUP CALLS TO IDENTIFY ADVOCACY ISSUES IN RELATION TO FERM AND SHARE RESOURCES/BEST PRACTICES, ETC. IN JULY, AI JUSTICE HOSTED A WEBINAR ENTITLED "WHAT IS THE FERM PROCESS, AND WE CONTINUED TO SEEK TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC AND LEGAL COMMUNITY ABOUT THE PROGRAM. IN SEPTEMBER 2023, WE PUBLISHED A REPORT ENTITLED: THE FAMILY EXPEDITED REMOVAL MANAGEMENT PROGRAM (FERM): A THREE-MONTH ASSESSMENT | HIGHLIGHTING THE NEED FOR A MORE FAMILY-CENTERED APPROACH, AND FOLLOWED IT UP WITH A WEBINAR IN OCTOBER 2023. WE ALSO HELD A SERIES OF THREE TRAININGS FOR BI STAFF REGARDING THE IMPORTANCE OF LEGAL ORIENTATION AND THE SERVICES AI JUSTICE PROVIDED ON OUR FAMILIAS SEGURAS HOTLINE. WE MET WITH HIGH LEVEL AGENCY OFFICIALS AS PART OF A LARGER GROUP OF IMMIGRATION ADVOCATES DISCUSSING VARIOUS POLICY CHANGES ENACTED IN MAY 2023, AND CONTINUED TO RAISE ISSUES WITH THE FERM PROGRAM. IN SEPTEMBER, AI JUSTICE STAFF MET INDIVIDUAL WITH A HIGH LEGAL DHS ADVISOR AND ICE OFFICIAL TO PREVIEW OUR FERM REPORT AND DISCUSS KEY POLICY PROPOSALS. WE PROVIDED INPUT TO AMERICAN IMMIGRATION COUNCIL AND AMERICAN IMMIGRATION LAWYERS ASSOCIATION REGARDING THEIR FOIA REQUEST. WE SIGNED ONTO LETTER WITH 45 OTHER ORGANIZATIONS REQUESTING TRANSPARENCY RE: FERM SENT TO MAYORKAS IN SEPTEMBER 2023. IN NOVEMBER 2023, WE BEGAN ENGAGING IN THE IMMIGRATION APPROPRIATIONS COLLABORATIVE, WHICH WENT ON TO PRODUCE APPROPRIATION BILL LANGUAGE PROPOSALS REGARDING FERM IN THREE ASPECTS: (1) DATA COLLECTION AND PUBLICATION REGARDING FAMILY EXPEDITED REMOVAL MANAGEMENT; (2) FAMILY AND CHILD-FRIENDLY PRACTICE BEFORE THE ASYLUM OFFICE; AND (3) INCREASED FUNDING FOR LEGAL ACCESS PROGRAMS.IN THE FALL OF 2023, AI JUSTICE WORKED WITH A COALITION OF ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING THE HAITIAN BRIDGE ALLIANCE, FLORENCE IMMIGRANT & REFUGEE RIGHTS PROJECT (FIRRP), U.S. COMMITTEE FOR REFUGEES AND IMMIGRANTS, RAICES, AND HUMAN RIGHTS FIRST TO RESPOND TO A REQUEST FOR COMMENTS REGARDING SHORT-TERM ENFORCED DISAPPEARANCES TO THE U.N. WORKING GROUP ON ENFORCED AND INVOLUNTARY DISAPPEARANCES (UNWGEID) AND THE U.N. COMMITTEE ON ENFORCED DISAPPEARANCES (CED). IN THIS SUBMISSION FROM AUGUST 2023, WE RAISED THE ISSUE OF THE LACK OF A SYSTEM TO IDENTIFY MIGRANTS DETAINED IN CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION (CBP) CUSTODY. IN OCTOBER 2023, WE PRESENTED OUR SUBMISSION TO THE UNWGEID AND CED AT AN ONLINE MEETING. FOLLOWING THIS, AND AT THE REQUEST OF THE UNWGEID, OUR COALITION OF ORGANIZATION SUBSEQUENTLY SUBMITTED GENERAL ALLEGATIONS AGAINST THE UNITED STATES REGARDING ENFORCED DISAPPEARANCES OF MIGRANTS, INCLUDING IN CBP CUSTODY, TO THE UNWGEID IN DECEMBER 2023.