Following the shooting of Alex Pretti, U.S. lawmakers have sought bipartisan negotiations over Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spending and immigration enforcement policies.
Amid national outcry over immigration enforcement tactics in Minneapolis, civil society groups across America have called on Congress to place guardrails and accountability measures in place to rein in DHS practices toward immigrants and communities.
Much of this discussion has revolved around body cameras, warrantless arrests, and masking of federal agents—but the groundswell of support for DHS accountability has gone even further, mobilizing groups across the country and emphasizing other major issue areas.
Ecumenical Plea for Accountability and Justice in DHS Discussions
In an interfaith letter to members of Congress organized by the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, faith-based leaders argue this is a “critical moment to legislate immigration policies that are just, humane and respectful of the dignity of immigrants.”
The letter called for respect for due process, standards in detention facilities, and resources toward addressing immigration backlogs, as well as an end to surge presences in Minneapolis and other cities. (Though officials recently announced that personnel had been removed from Minneapolis, major enforcement efforts are still taking place around the country.)
“As you negotiate meaningful reforms in the coming weeks, we urge you to prioritize language that preserves the freedom to worship, to live in safety regardless of race or background, to love our neighbors, and to meet the basic needs and rights of all,” wrote the signatories, including Global Refuge CEO and President Krish O’Mara Vignarajah.
Groups Call on Congress to End Refugee Re-Interviews
In Minnesota, a targeted campaign called Operation PARRIS has resulted in the arrest, detention, and out-of-state transfer of dozens of refugees for extensive reinterviews. There is currently a temporary restraining order in place from a federal judge halting further arrests of refugees under Operation PARRIS—but this relief is only temporary as the case proceeds.
A coalition of organizations led by Refugee Council USA has urged Congressional leaders to help stop this unprecedented campaign against lawfully admitted and resettled refugees.
Signatory organizations (including Global Refuge) argued that there should be restrictions on the use of DHS funds for carrying out harmful practices like Operation PARRIS, which are part of a larger effort to reinterview and relitigate previous grants of refugee status.
Major Show of Support for Protecting Sensitive Locations
Federal agents are increasingly carrying out immigration enforcement operations in healthcare facilities, schools, places of worship, and other sensitive locations.
Lawmakers have pushed the Protecting Sensitive Locations Act (H.R. 1061 or S.455) to codify previous federal guidance that had limited enforcement operations in these sorts of locations.
More than 400 organizations including Global Refuge joined a request to Congressional leadership to include provisions from the Protecting Sensitive Locations Act as part of DHS budget negotiations. Numerous medical and public health groups also joined the request.
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