Democrats’ immigration reform legislation would overhaul much of federal policy, but despite its 350 pages, the bill is silent on a number of key considerations.
Protocols for caring for families and children, border wall infrastructure, decriminalizing illegal immigration, immigration courts, employment-based immigration, and private detention facilities were not addressed in either the House or Senate versions of the bill introduced last week.
REPUBLICAN STATE OFFICIALS WANT TO MAKE SURE 2020 VOTING CHANGES ARE TEMPORARY
1. Family and children detention protocols
The bill does nothing to amend the Flores settlement agreement, a court ruling that mandates migrant families and children are released quickly, even as increasing numbers are encountered on the border.
Its not being addressed means families encountered by Border Patrol will continue being released into the country.
The Flores settlement agreement originated from a lawsuit in the mid-1980s over the detention of an unaccompanied girl. A 1997 ruling in the case effectively prevented federal law enforcement
