National Coordinated Campaign Includes 50 ACLU Affiliates
WASHINGTON — The American Civil Liberties Union of Nebraska filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request today with our local U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) office to shone light on how administration officials are interpreting and executing the President’s unconstitutional immigration ban and to determine whether or not they are acting in violation of federal courts orders staying the ban’s implementation. The filing today is part of a coordinated effort from 50 ACLU affiliates, which filed 18 FOIAs with CBP field offices and its headquarters spanning 55 international airports across the country.
“The chaos and confusion caused by these executive orders is already hurting individuals and families who are refugees but who call Nebraska home. This is painfully clear through local media reports and intakes to our office,” said ACLU of Nebraska Executive Director Danielle Conrad. “For decades, Nebraska has had a proud tradition of welcoming refugees as those individuals and families flee unimaginable violence and persecution and who re-settle and enrich our communities. That is why we stepped forward as part of the ACLU network to use our unique skills as civil rights lawyers to shine light on what is happening locally and across the country so everyone is empowered to know their rights and accordingly plan next steps.”
Media reports indicate that CBP officials detained and deported individuals, even after federal courts ordered officials to stop enforcing the Trump executive order through a petition from the ACLU and other organizations. Nebraska has the highest per capita
“It is imperative that the public learn if federal immigration officials are blatantly defying nationwide federal court orders that discontinue President Trump’s unconstitutional immigration ban,” said Mitra Ebadolahi, Border Litigation Project Staff Attorney with the ACLU of San Diego and Imperial Counties. “To shed light on this critical issue of pressing public concern, 50 ACLU affiliates are using the Freedom of Information Act to expose Customs and Border Protection’s abuse of power.”
The Trump administration has yet to inform the public of how many refugees, visa holders, and legal permanent residents have been affected by this unlawful action.
The FOIA filings can be found here:
https://www.aclu.org/cbp-foia-filing-trump-immigration-ban
This statement is online here:
