Trump Has Exposed the Dangers Buried in our Immigration Law
It would be comforting to believe that what we are witnessing in U.S. immigration policy is simply the product of one man’s authoritarian impulses. It would also be wrong. President Trump did not invent the machinery now driving mass detention and unchecked arrests. Like multiple presidents before him, he is exploiting long-standing potential for abuse of power in our immigration laws that Congress has repeatedly refused to remedy. That is why the crisis unfolding today will not automatically end when Trump leaves office. Unless we push for significant change, the next administration will inherit the same tools of abuse.
When Temps Plunge, Dilapidated Jails and Prisons Put Lives at Risk
As another round of extreme low temperatures sweeps parts of the U.S., people in dilapidated jails and prisons face an increased risk of illness and even death. The threat of losing power, poor heating systems and a general lack of medical attention can compound problems in frigid conditions. “No one should be forced to face extreme cold, and there are well-documented cases of people in immigration detention facing harmful and abusive cold conditions,” said Shayna Kessler, director of the Vera Institute of Justice’s Advancing Universal Representation Initiative, which seeks to provide an attorney for those at risk of deportation.
UN Rights Chief Warns His Office is in ‘Survival Mode’ Over Funding Crisis
The human rights chief of the United Nations says his office has been pushed into “survival mode” as he appealed for $400m to cover its funding needs this year. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk warned the cuts are undermining global human rights monitoring as he outlined his agency’s funding needs after the United States and other major Western donors last year reduced their humanitarian spending and support for UN-linked agencies.
The US Says Venezuela is Changing. But One Month Since Maduro’s Capture, its People Aren’t So Sure
One month after the US carried out an attack in Venezuela to capture its president, civilians in the South American country remain caught between uncertainty and expectations of governmental change. Some believe the ouster of strongman leader Nicolás Maduro offers a glimmer of hope for rebuilding institutions and guaranteeing citizens’ rights. Others question whether this new phase – which the US and the government of acting President Delcy Rodríguez call a “transition” – will lead to democracy or if the change they hope for will stay on hold.