FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 11, 2017
Contact: Kemi Bello, kbello@ilrc.org, (415) 321-8568
Sessions Promotes Prejudice, Forces Prosecutors to Jail More Immigrants
During a visit to the border town of Nogales, Arizona, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions unveiled new Department of Justice guidance calling upon federal prosecutors to ramp up the prosecution of a number of immigration-related offenses.
Angie Junck, Supervising Attorney at the Immigrant Legal Resource Center, issued the following statement:
“Today’s remarks by the Attorney General betray a hunger to use his position within our legal system as a tool to criminalize, incarcerate and deport as many immigrants as possible.”
“By mandating prosecution virtually on the basis of immigration status alone, the Attorney General’s memo to federal prosecutors serves as proof that who we deem as “deserving of” punishment is a moving target that can be molded and interpreted by those in power as they see fit.”
“Let’s be clear - those who staff the current federal administration have committed themselves to the undemocratic principles of nativism and exclusion by any means necessary.”
“It’s up to us – we the people - to reject this wasteful and prejudiced reliance on incarceration as policy. Instead, we must commit ourselves to restoring the promise of fair and equal treatment under the law to all people, no matter their skin color or immigration status.”
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About the Immigrant Legal Resource Center
The Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) is a national nonprofit that works with immigrants, community organizations, legal professionals, and policy makers to build a democratic society that values diversity and the rights of all people. Through community education programs, legal training & technical assistance, and policy development & advocacy, the ILRC’s mission is to protect and defend the fundamental rights of immigrant families and communities. www.ilrc.org