Washington — When federal officers introduced the opening of a brand new detention middle in Florida for undocumented immigrants dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz,” they mentioned its focus could be on rounding up people with a prison report – folks that President Trump and border czar Tom Homan have referred to as “the worst of the worst.” Nevertheless, many individuals who’ve been locked up on the Florida Everglades detention middle shouldn’t have prison data, CBS News has realized.
A few of Alligator Alcatraz’s detainees are “dreamers,” like Edgar, who’s amongst greater than a half-million beneficiaries of the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals policy, or DACA, the federal program that allowed undocumented immigrants dropped at the U.S. as kids to stay and work within the nation with out concern of deportation.
Edgar arrived within the U.S. in 2001 when he was 13 years outdated and right now is the daddy of three U.S. residents. In June, he was detained following a visitors cease and have become one the primary detainees despatched to “Alligator Alcatraz.”
“When he acquired arrested and he was taken there, I used to be truly anxious for his life,” Edgar’s brother instructed CBS News.
Because the Trump administration continues its immigration crackdown, the variety of unlawful crossings alongside the southern border final month reached a record low of about 4,600. On the similar time, in June there was a record-high variety of migrants who had been detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement — about 59,000.
Federal statistics obtained by CBS News in June confirmed almost half — or 47% — of these detained by ICE lacked a prison report, and fewer than 30% had been convicted of any crime.
ICE Deputy Director Madison Sheahan instructed CBS News Tuesday that not one of the individuals who have been detained at Alligator Alcatraz are there by chance.
“These are individuals who have dedicated a criminal offense in opposition to america by coming into this nation illegally,” Sheahan mentioned in an interview in Washington. Being undocumented is a civil violation of immigration legislation, not a prison offense.
Immigration legal professional Rachel Einbund instructed CBS News she is worried in regards to the precedent, asking, “does this imply that each single dreamer is topic to deportation as a result of [Department of Homeland Security] modified their thoughts?”
Edgar has since been transferred to a different facility in Florida, and his household says they really feel helpless.
“The truth that he is being disadvantaged of his freedom … that makes me really feel like my arms are tied,” his mom mentioned in Spanish.
In a video name with CBS News organized by his household, Edgar mentioned the federal government made a mistake after they arrested him and despatched him to “Alligator Alcatraz.”
“There’s truly individuals who is harmless, like me,” mentioned Edgar, who requested that CBS News not use his actual title or present his face.
He additionally mentioned he had instructed arresting officers he was a DACA recipient and that his standing was lively.
“They (ICE) mentioned DACA was canceled, that I might stand no likelihood in keep within the nation,” he mentioned.
Edgar and his lawyer instructed CBS News that they have no idea why he is being detained. When requested why he assume he is nonetheless in a detention facility, Edgar mentioned he believes “It is like a torture and attempt to attempt to make you deport your self.”
Of the estimated 100,000 individuals who had been deported earlier this yr, 70,583 had been convicted criminals, in keeping with one other ICE document obtained by CBS News final month. A lot of the documented infractions had been for visitors or immigration offenses. It is unclear what number of of them had been a part of the DACA program.
DHS Spokesperson Tricia McLaughlan instructed CBS News that undocumented immigrants who say they’re beneficiaries of DACA aren’t mechanically protected against deportations.
“DACA doesn’t confer any type of authorized standing on this nation,” McLaughlan mentioned. “Any unlawful alien who’s a DACA recipient could also be topic to arrest and deportation for quite a few causes together with in the event that they’ve dedicated a criminal offense.”
CBS News reviewed Edgar’s report and located he isn’t dealing with prison costs.
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