AZMEX I3 9 OCT 2018
Note: As always, all about illegal immigration.
Thx
Phoenix church takes in 100 asylum seekers released by ICE
Max Walker
9:03 PM, Oct 8, 2018
5 hours ago
north phoenix | phoenix metro
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https://www.abc15.com/news/region-phoenix-metro/north-phoenix/phoenix-church-takes-in-100-asylum-seekers-released-by-ice
PHOENIX - About one hundred people, families who have requested asylum in the United States, have arrived at a church after being released by Immigrations and Customs Enforcement officials.
The church, Shadow Rock United Church of Christ, has taken in immigrants seeking to remain in the United States before, but never to this extent, according to Liz Curry, president of the church's board.
The move comes as ICE releases several hundred people in Arizona as the agency seeks to comply with legal restrictions on the length of time people seeking to enter the U.S. may be held at detention centers.
"[T]he government remains severely constrained in its ability to detain and promptly remove families that have no legal basis to remain in the United States," an ICE spokesperson said in a statement.
For families detained by immigration authorities, under a settlement agreement and subsequent decision, unaccompanied children or families can only be held in custody for 20 days before being released while their cases work their way through immigration courts.
Before families are released, ICE policy requires agents to review a family's plan to reach a final destination in the US. The process can include confirming bus routes, coordinating with NGOs to ensure a support network where they are going and communicating with other relatives living in the U.S.
RELATED: US refugee admissions lowest in 40 years
"In light of the incredibly high volume of [people] presenting themselves along the Arizona border, ICE no longer has the capacity to conduct these reviews," the spokesperson said. To prevent a breach of the regulations surrounding immigrants in custody, ICE cut back on doing such reviews starting October 7.
According to a church email obtained by KTAR, an estimated 400 to 700 asylum seekers will be released by ICE.
For Shadow Rock, Curry said ICE asked for the church to house and care for their group for a couple of nights and provide transportation to bus stops to connect with their families.
The church has a preschool which is on fall break, which Curry said allowed for there to be enough space to house everyone.
ICE said determinations about who to release are made on a case-by-case basis and safety is the agency's highest priority. Those transferred out of custody will be enrolled in the agency's Alternatives to Detention program, issued orders of recognizance or paroled with supervision requirements, and issued a notice to appear in immigration court.
Shadow Rock has a history of supporting immigrants, KTAR reported.
In February, the church gave sanctuary to a man facing deportation for the third time so he could remain in the US with his pregnant wife and sick child. This July pastor Ken Heintzelman spoke at a press conference in front of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement office in Phoenix denouncing the actions of ICE separating families caught trying to cross the border.
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Also;
Immigrant families released by ICE arrive in Phoenix seeking asylum
BY KTAR.COM | OCTOBER 8, 2018 AT 4:45 PM
UPDATED: OCTOBER 9, 2018 AT 1:42 PM
(Photo by KTAR News' Griselda Zetino)
http://ktar.com/story/2250145/immigrant-families-released-by-ice-arrive-in-phoenix-seeking-asylum/
PHOENIX — Immigration and Customs Enforcement has started to release more than 400 asylum seekers in Arizona. A coalition of churches and organizations across Arizona began accepting immigrants on Sunday.
Close to 100 immigrants were dropped off Monday evening at Shadow Rock United Church of Christ, Pastor Ken Heintzelman said in an email message.
The church is expecting to house most of the asylum seekers through the middle of the week, until they can connect with family and friends to arrange travel elsewhere across the country, said Heintzelman.
"We have done this before, but not for this large number of guests. Sometimes we are preparing for 20-25 and no one shows up, sometimes we are preparing for 6-10 and 20-25 show up," Liz Curry, President of the Board of Shadow Rock United Church of Christ, said. "This is by far the largest group with even increased needs because they were given no finances to help them find their families."
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The church has a history of supporting immigrants.
In February, Shadow Rock United gave sanctuary to a man facing deportation for a third time, allowing him to remain in the U.S. with his sick child and pregnant wife.
In July, Pastor Ken Heintzelman spoke at a press conference in front of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement office in Phoenix denouncing the actions of ICE separating families caught trying to cross the border.
Being in a border state, immigration is a major issue for Gov. Doug Ducey who joined KTAR News 92.3 FM's Mac & Gaydos on Monday afternoon.
"Of course we're communicating with the federal government, homeland security," Ducey said. "Thank goodness for our non-profit community, the NGO's (Non-governmental organization), the faith-based community. These are people that are going to go through the process with the federal government as they seek asylum.
"But some of these organizations are going to help them find shelter and places to live. This is part of the surge of activity that's happened at the border."
ICE spokesperson Yasmeen Pitts O'Keefe also issued a statement on the release of the families.
"After decades of inaction by Congress, the government has remained severely constrained in its ability to detain and promptly remove families that have no legal basis to remain in the United States," O'Keefe said in the statement.
She said the organization began to release family units that are in danger of being held past time allotted based on judicial decisions interpreting the Flores Settlement Agreement.
Families typically undergo interviews confirming coordinates and final destinations throughout the country, but are not required to do so.
Due to time and resource limitations, some of the families have started to be released in Arizona before final plans could be discussed and accommodated. These families are being released to the coalition organizations.
From the budget year that ended Sept. 30, the U.S. has admitted only one-quarter of the number of refugees admitted into the country two years ago.
The 22,491 refugees allowed into the U.S. last year was the lowest number since a modern resettlement system was passed into law by Congress in 1980.
KTAR News' Griselda Zetino contributed to this report.
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