Trump Places Partisan Politics Over Real Solutions in Muddled Speech on Immigration

WASHINGTON, DC — In a rambling often unintelligible speech filled with contradictions, President Trump chose politics over real solutions when he announced plans to rewrite American asylum law and procedures and construct tent cities where families and asylum seekers will be detained for years. Details of the plan were not offered, but will reportedly be announced next week.

Anastasia Tonello, AILA President, said, "The president did not use facts to justify his actions. For example, he claimed that only 3 percent of asylum seekers show up for court when the Department of Homeland Security's own numbers show that the vast majority appear for their scheduled hearing, as demonstrated by the thousands of immigrants who appeared in court yesterday in response to notices with fake hearing dates. Instead of offering real solutions, less than a week before the midterms, he offered political fear-mongering and ignored the truth about immigrants."

Benjamin Johnson, AILA Executive Director, added, "The president has rejected a host of workable solutions including partnering with the Mexican government to strengthen its asylum system and reviving programs to process refugees before they arrive in this country. In addition, in a shocking disregard for due process, he continues to attack lawyers representing immigrants. America deserves real solutions, not ugly politics."