Critics blast Trump for sending border detainees to prison

SEATTLE » President Donald Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigration has already led to overrun detention facilities, long lines of asylum seekers camping out at the U.S.-Mexico border and a decision to separate young children from their parents indefinitely.

Now, the administration is sending more than 1,600 immigrants — including some of those parents — to federal prisons amid a lack of space in other jails. The decision brought immediate denunciation from immigrant rights activists who were already enraged over the policy of separating parents from children.

The move comes as an increasing number of families and children have been coming to the border, further straining an immigration system that’s already at capacity. Despite hard-line rhetoric from the White House, more than 50,000 people were apprehended at the U.S.-Mexico border in May alone — many of them families and children — and courts, asylum officers and jails are struggling to keep up with the influx.

Historically, immigrants without serious criminal records were released from custody while they pursued asylum or refugee status. The Trump administration has moved to detain more people, including asylum seekers.

Under a new zero tolerance policy, parents who are criminally charged with illegal entering the country are separated from their children while in custody. The children are usually released to other family.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions insists the policy of separating families is necessary to deter illegal border-crossings, and authorities say the decision to send people to prisons is a temporary one amid a shortage of beds.

“If you bring a child, it is still an unlawful act,” Sessions said in a speech in Montana this week. “You don’t get immunity if you bring a child with you. We cannot have open borders for adults with children.”

Critics noted that many of those transferred to federal prison appeared to have already been convicted of the misdemeanor of unlawful entry and sentenced to time served.

“Even if you accept that draconian argument, what is completely flawed is that they’ve already completed the criminal prosecution,” said Matt Adams, legal director of the Seattle-based Northwest Immigrant Rights Project. “What is the rationale for continuing to separate them from their children and sending them to federal prison when they are just waiting for asylum?”