A French citizen and native of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/prince-harry-to-visit-angola-de-mining-project-in-dianas-footsteps-252301">Angola</a> has died in the custody of US immigration agents, they said on Wednesday, the latest in a number of deaths during a US crackdown on illegal immigrants.&nbsp;

A statement from <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/in-largest-immigration-raid-us-authorities-arrest-680-workers-at-mississippi-241598">Immigration and Customs Enforcement</a> (ICE) identified the person only as "a 40-year-old native of Angola and citizen of France."

Also Watch: Fineprint: Angolan court freezes assets of Africa's richest woman

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They said the person died on Sunday at a hospital in Albuquerque, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-mexico-opens-state-migrant-shelter-criticizes-federal-inaction-215057">New Mexico</a>.

"An autopsy is pending to determine the official cause of death," ICE said, adding that French consular officials have been notified and "are attempting to locate the next of kin."

A French embassy spokeswoman said she could not elaborate "at this stage," beyond what is in the ICE statement

The death follows that of Nebane Abienwi, 37, of Cameroon, who ICE said died in its custody in San Diego, California in October after a brain haemorrhage.

Later that month a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/cuba-manuel-merrero-becomes-prime-minister-40-years-after-fidel-castro-269513">Cuban</a>, Roylan Hernandez-Diaz, 53, died of an apparent suicide while in ICE custody in Louisiana, the agency said.

Between December 2018 and May 2019, five children from Guatemala died in detention after their apprehension by US border officers.

Clamping down on both legal and illegal immigration has been a central platform of US <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kim-a-man-of-his-word-on-denuclearization-donald-trump-271377">President Donald Trump</a>'s administration.

He has implemented numerous measures to curb a sharp increase in people crossing over the southern US border which overwhelmed the immigration system, but several of his&nbsp;policies on migrants have been blocked in court and sparked controversy.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hong-kong-to-end-year-with-multiple-protests-kick-off-2020-with-big-march-271045">Human Rights Watch</a> said the death of Hernandez-Diaz raised "disturbing questions about a system we know has failed to protect asylum seekers and other immigrants in its care over and over again."

A French citizen and native of Angola has died in the custody of US immigration agents, they said on Wednesday, the latest in a number of deaths during a US crackdown on illegal immigrants.

A French citizen and native of Angola has died in the custody of US immigration agents, they said on Wednesday, the latest in a number of deaths during a US crackdown on illegal immigrants. A statement from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) identified the person only as "a 40-year-old native of Angola and citizen of France." Also Watch: Fineprint: Angolan court freezes assets of Africa's richest woman × They said the person died on Sunday at a hospital in Albuquerque, New Mexico. "An autopsy is pending to determine the official cause of death," ICE said, adding that French consular officials have been notified and "are attempting to locate the next of kin." A French embassy spokeswoman said she could not elaborate "at this stage," beyond what is in the ICE statement The death follows that of Nebane Abienwi, 37, of Cameroon, who ICE said died in its custody in San Diego, California in October after a brain haemorrhage. Later that month a Cuban, Roylan Hernandez-Diaz, 53, died of an apparent suicide while in ICE custody in Louisiana, the agency said. Between December 2018 and May 2019, five children from Guatemala died in detention after their apprehension by US border officers. Clamping down on both legal and illegal immigration has been a central platform of US President Donald Trump's administration. He has implemented numerous measures to curb a sharp increase in people crossing over the southern US border which overwhelmed the immigration system, but several of his policies on migrants have been blocked in court and sparked controversy. Human Rights Watch said the death of Hernandez-Diaz raised "disturbing questions about a system we know has failed to protect asylum seekers and other immigrants in its care over and over again."

French citizen from Angola dies in US immigration custody

A <a href="https://www.wionews.com/bangladesh?page=59">Bangladeshi</a> sex worker, who had lodged a complaint of sexual assault by two men, was arrested by Commissionerate Police for staying illegally in Bhubaneswar without valid documents.

The woman had come to Odisha on the basis of a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/mumbai-model-uses-fake-aadhar-of-actress-urvashi-rautela-127276">fake Aadhaar card</a> which she had obtained during her stay in West Bengal.

On December 16, the woman had gone to Laxmisagar police station to lodge a complaint in which she alleged she was sexually assaulted by two men in a hotel in Chintamaniswar area of Cuttack Road.

"There was a case in the Laxmisagar police station where a lady complained that she was abused and misbehaved with&nbsp;in a room. On the basis of the complaint, we have registered a case and arrested and forwarded to the court two persons who were involved in the incident," Bhubaneswar's Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Anup Kumar said.

The subsequent investigation revealed that she was a Bangladeshi national and had come to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/27-ias-16-ips-officers-promoted-in-odisha-269535">Odisha</a> using a fake Aadhaar card, which had an address of a district in West Bengal.

"During the verification of the informant's details, we found that there existed no such address in West Bengal as was mentioned in the details submitted by her. On that basis, we further interrogated her, and it came to light that she had come from Bangladesh and had stayed in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/west-bengal-cm-mamata-banerjee-leads-protest-march-against-caa-in-kolkata-on-monday-269999">Kolkata</a> for some time," Kumar said.

"From there, she had come to Bhubaneswar and was into flesh trade for some time," he added.

No passport or visa was found from her possession during the search.

A case has been registered against her under Sections 419, 468, 471 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), and Section 14 of the Foreigners Act, Kumar said.

A Bangladeshi sex worker, who had lodged a complaint of sexual assault by two men, was arrested by Commissionerate Police for staying illegally in Bhubaneswar without valid documents.

A Bangladeshi sex worker, who had lodged a complaint of sexual assault by two men, was arrested by Commissionerate Police for staying illegally in Bhubaneswar without valid documents. The woman had come to Odisha on the basis of a fake Aadhaar card which she had obtained during her stay in West Bengal. On December 16, the woman had gone to Laxmisagar police station to lodge a complaint in which she alleged she was sexually assaulted by two men in a hotel in Chintamaniswar area of Cuttack Road. "There was a case in the Laxmisagar police station where a lady complained that she was abused and misbehaved with in a room. On the basis of the complaint, we have registered a case and arrested and forwarded to the court two persons who were involved in the incident," Bhubaneswar's Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Anup Kumar said. The subsequent investigation revealed that she was a Bangladeshi national and had come to Odisha using a fake Aadhaar card, which had an address of a district in West Bengal. "During the verification of the informant's details, we found that there existed no such address in West Bengal as was mentioned in the details submitted by her. On that basis, we further interrogated her, and it came to light that she had come from Bangladesh and had stayed in Kolkata for some time," Kumar said. "From there, she had come to Bhubaneswar and was into flesh trade for some time," he added. No passport or visa was found from her possession during the search. A case has been registered against her under Sections 419, 468, 471 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), and Section 14 of the Foreigners Act, Kumar said.

Odisha: Bangladeshi woman lodges sexual assault complaint; gets arrested for staying illegally

The Myanmar navy seized the vessel carrying the group, including 22 children, in Tanintharyi Division’s Kawthaung township on Sunday, said military spokesman Tun Tun Nyi.

“Our navy found them on a suspicious boat in the sea,” he told Reuters by phone. “The police will proceed according to the law.”

More than 730,000 Rohingya <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/the-rohingya-refugee-crisis-in-key-dates-245472">fled</a> Myanmar to Bangladesh in 2017 to escape a military-led crackdown that U.N investigators have said was carried out with “genocidal intent” and included mass killings and rapes.

Some<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/two-years-on-rohingyas-still-without-rights-status-or-justice-244567"> 600,000 remain</a>&nbsp;in largely Buddhist Myanmar, confined to camps and villages in the western Rakhine state where they are unable to travel freely or access healthcare and education.

For years, Rohingya on both sides of the border have boarded&nbsp;boats&nbsp;organized by smugglers in the&nbsp;dry&nbsp;months between November and March, when the sea is calm. The dangerous journey to Thailand and Malaysia, often undertaken in overcrowded, rickety vessels, has cost many lives.

The exodus peaked in 2015 when an estimated 25,000 people crossed the Andaman Sea, many drowning in unsafe and overloaded boats. But smuggling has continued.

Myat Thu, assistant director of Kawthaung township’s administrative office, said it was not yet clear whether the group arrested on Sunday set sail from Myanmar or Bangladesh.

“Now we keep them at an island in Kawthaung in the sea, with security guards,” he told Reuters by phone. “We are making sure that all of their human rights are protected.”

Bangladesh coast guard official Saiful Islam told Reuters they were unaware of any boats leaving the camps for Myanmar.

“If we had such information, we would have stopped them,” he said by phone.

More than 90 Rohingya including 23 children found on a beach in the Irrawaddy delta region after boarding a boat from Rakhine appeared in a Myanmar court on Dec. 11 to face charges&nbsp;of travelling illegally.

Hundreds have been <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/95-rohingya-in-myanmar-face-jail-as-un-hears-genocide-case-267699">imprisoned</a> in jails and youth detention centres across the country.

“It shouldn’t be that way,” Muslim leader Wunna Shwe, joint-secretary of the Islamic Religious Affairs Council in Myanmar, told Reuters.

“The government must examine their citizenship and grant citizenship to those who are eligible. It will be difficult to solve this issue without recognizing the rights of the people in the existing camps.”

The Myanmar navy seized the vessel carrying the group, including 22 children, in Tanintharyi Division’s Kawthaung township on Sunday, said military spokesman Tun Tun Nyi.

The Myanmar navy seized the vessel carrying the group, including 22 children, in Tanintharyi Division’s Kawthaung township on Sunday, said military spokesman Tun Tun Nyi. “Our navy found them on a suspicious boat in the sea,” he told Reuters by phone. “The police will proceed according to the law.” More than 730,000 Rohingya fled Myanmar to Bangladesh in 2017 to escape a military-led crackdown that U.N investigators have said was carried out with “genocidal intent” and included mass killings and rapes. Some 600,000 remain in largely Buddhist Myanmar, confined to camps and villages in the western Rakhine state where they are unable to travel freely or access healthcare and education. For years, Rohingya on both sides of the border have boarded boats organized by smugglers in the dry months between November and March, when the sea is calm. The dangerous journey to Thailand and Malaysia, often undertaken in overcrowded, rickety vessels, has cost many lives. The exodus peaked in 2015 when an estimated 25,000 people crossed the Andaman Sea, many drowning in unsafe and overloaded boats. But smuggling has continued. Myat Thu, assistant director of Kawthaung township’s administrative office, said it was not yet clear whether the group arrested on Sunday set sail from Myanmar or Bangladesh. “Now we keep them at an island in Kawthaung in the sea, with security guards,” he told Reuters by phone. “We are making sure that all of their human rights are protected.” Bangladesh coast guard official Saiful Islam told Reuters they were unaware of any boats leaving the camps for Myanmar. “If we had such information, we would have stopped them,” he said by phone. More than 90 Rohingya including 23 children found on a beach in the Irrawaddy delta region after boarding a boat from Rakhine appeared in a Myanmar court on Dec. 11 to face charges of travelling illegally. Hundreds have been imprisoned in jails and youth detention centres across the country. “It shouldn’t be that way,” Muslim leader Wunna Shwe, joint-secretary of the Islamic Religious Affairs Council in Myanmar, told Reuters. “The government must examine their citizenship and grant citizenship to those who are eligible. It will be difficult to solve this issue without recognizing the rights of the people in the existing camps.”

Myanmar seizes boat carrying 173 Rohingya Muslims: Military

Several townships in rural Vietnam sank into mourning on Saturday, with communities believing that many of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/39-bodies-found-near-london-in-truck-container-uk-police-257701">39 people found dead</a> in the back of a truck near London this week came from poor, rice-growing areas of the country.

The bodies were discovered on Wednesday after emergency services were alerted to people in a truck container on an industrial site in Grays, about 32 km&nbsp;east of central London.

British police said on Saturday that they had charged one man, 25-year-old Maurice Robinson of Craigavon in Northern Ireland, with 39 counts of manslaughter and other offences including conspiracy to traffic people.

Police initially believed the dead were Chinese, but Beijing said the nationalities had not been confirmed and on Saturday a senior British police officer in charge of identification asked for help from Britain's Vietnamese community.

Chinese and Vietnamese officials are now both working closely with British police, the two countries' embassies have said. Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc ordered government officials to help establish the identities of the victims and look into cases of Vietnamese citizens sent abroad illegally.

Father Anthony Dang Huu Nam, a Catholic priest in the remote town of Yen Thanh in northern-central Vietnam's Nghe An province, 300 km&nbsp;south of Hanoi, said he believed most of the dead were likely from Vietnam. He told Reuters he was liaising with family members.

"The whole district is covered in sorrow," Nam said, as prayers for the dead rang out over loudspeakers throughout the misty, rain-soaked town on Saturday. "This is a catastrophe for our community."

On Saturday evening, Nam led around 500 worshippers in prayers for the dead as they held lit candles in the modest, white-walled church in Yen Thanh.

"We are here to pray for justice and peace, and for the victims of society. We pray for the 39 people who lost their lives on the way to the UK. They are people coming from central Vietnam, our land," Nam said.

Nam said families had told him they knew relatives were travelling to Britain at the time the container truck was travelling, and had been unable to contact their loved ones.

The British police officer in charge of identifying the victims, Detective Chief Inspector Martin Pasmore, said very few were carrying official identification and that he hoped to identify the dead through fingerprints, dental records and DNA, as well as photos from friends and relatives.

Police have found more than 500 items within the truck including bags, clothing and mobile phones that need to be assessed. Once a preliminary identification has been made, liaison officers will be deployed to support families.

Apart from the man charged, who will appear in court on Monday for an <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/essex-lorry-deaths-chinas-embassy-urges-uk-police-to-find-out-the-truth-about-39-bodies-discovered-in-truck-258039">initial hearing</a>, three other people are under arrest in Britain on suspicion of manslaughter and human trafficking. A fourth person is under arrest in Dublin.

Watch - Essex: 39 bodies found in a lorry, police interrogate 25-year-old driver

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/essex39-bodies-found-in-a-tanker-police-interrogate-25-year-old-driver-257991/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

 
'Beautiful day'

&nbsp;

In Yen Thanh, Nghe An province, dozens of worried relatives of 19-year-old Bui Thi Nhung gathered in the family's small courtyard home where her distraught mother has been unable to rise from her bed.

"She said she was in France and on the way to the UK, where she has friends and relatives," said Nhung's cousin, Hoang Thi Linh.

"We are waiting and hoping it's not her among the victims, but it's very likely. We pray for her every day. There were two people from my village travelling in that group".

In comments under a photo uploaded to Nhung's Facebook account on Monday, two days before the doomed truck was discovered, one friend asked how her journey was going.

"Not good," Nhung replied. "Almost spring," she said, using a term in Vietnamese meaning she had almost reached her destination.

Other photos on her account show her sightseeing in Brussels on October 18.

"Such a beautiful day," Nhung posted.

Another person who may have died is Nguyen Dinh Tu, who had been working illegally in Romania, and Germany, where he lost his job.

A few months ago, he asked his wife Hoang Thi Thuong to help him raise 11,000 pounds to cover the cost of an illicit trip from Germany to the United Kingdom.

"I lost contact with him on October 21," Thuong told Reuters. "I have a big debt to pay, no hope, and no energy to do anything".

Tu's father said relatives in the United Kingdom had told him that Tu was inside the truck, and had been planning to pick him up.

"They were supposed to pick him up at the drop-off point but they called and said Tu was in that truck," Tu's father, Nguyen Dinh Sat, told Reuters.

"I haven't heard anything from my son". 
 
Parents 'can't breathe'

How the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/majority-of-39-uk-truck-victims-likely-from-vietnam-priest-258278">victims came to be in the truck</a> is not yet known.

Some 70 per cent&nbsp;of Vietnamese trafficking cases in the United Kingdom between 2009-2016 were for labour exploitation, including cannabis production and work in nail bars, according to a British government report last year.

"Women and girls from rural areas are also considered more susceptible to trafficking," the report said.

British police sought to reassure anyone living in Britain illegally that they would not be investigated if they came forward to help with the identification.

"If you come to us, we will do all we can to put our arm around you and take you through this process, and establish as quickly as possible whether or not we have your loved involved in this tragic incident, and try and reunite you," Pasmore said.

Nghe An is one of Vietnam's poorest provinces, and home to many victims of human trafficking who end up in Europe, according to a March report by the Pacific Links Foundation, a U.S.-based anti-trafficking organisation.

Other victims are believed to come from the neighbouring province of Ha Tinh, Father Nam said. In the first eight months of this year, 41,790 people left Ha Tinh looking for work elsewhere, including overseas, according to state media.

The province was ravaged by one of Vietnam's worst environmental disasters in 2016 when a steel mill owned by Taiwan's Formosa Plastics contaminated coastal waters, devastating local fishing and tourism industries.

Another suspected victim from Ha Tinh, 26-year-old Pham Thi Tra My, had sent a text message to her mother saying she could not breathe at about the time the truck container was en route from Belgium to Britain.

"That girl who said in her message that she couldn't breathe in the truck? Her parents can't breathe here at home," Nam said.

Several townships in rural Vietnam sank into mourning on Saturday, with communities believing that many of the 39 people found dead in the back of a truck near London this week came from poor, rice-growing areas of the country.

Several townships in rural Vietnam sank into mourning on Saturday, with communities believing that many of the 39 people found dead in the back of a truck near London this week came from poor, rice-growing areas of the country. The bodies were discovered on Wednesday after emergency services were alerted to people in a truck container on an industrial site in Grays, about 32 km east of central London. British police said on Saturday that they had charged one man, 25-year-old Maurice Robinson of Craigavon in Northern Ireland, with 39 counts of manslaughter and other offences including conspiracy to traffic people. Police initially believed the dead were Chinese, but Beijing said the nationalities had not been confirmed and on Saturday a senior British police officer in charge of identification asked for help from Britain's Vietnamese community. Chinese and Vietnamese officials are now both working closely with British police, the two countries' embassies have said. Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc ordered government officials to help establish the identities of the victims and look into cases of Vietnamese citizens sent abroad illegally. Father Anthony Dang Huu Nam, a Catholic priest in the remote town of Yen Thanh in northern-central Vietnam's Nghe An province, 300 km south of Hanoi, said he believed most of the dead were likely from Vietnam. He told Reuters he was liaising with family members. "The whole district is covered in sorrow," Nam said, as prayers for the dead rang out over loudspeakers throughout the misty, rain-soaked town on Saturday. "This is a catastrophe for our community." On Saturday evening, Nam led around 500 worshippers in prayers for the dead as they held lit candles in the modest, white-walled church in Yen Thanh. "We are here to pray for justice and peace, and for the victims of society. We pray for the 39 people who lost their lives on the way to the UK. They are people coming from central Vietnam, our land," Nam said. Nam said families had told him they knew relatives were travelling to Britain at the time the container truck was travelling, and had been unable to contact their loved ones. The British police officer in charge of identifying the victims, Detective Chief Inspector Martin Pasmore, said very few were carrying official identification and that he hoped to identify the dead through fingerprints, dental records and DNA, as well as photos from friends and relatives. Police have found more than 500 items within the truck including bags, clothing and mobile phones that need to be assessed. Once a preliminary identification has been made, liaison officers will be deployed to support families. Apart from the man charged, who will appear in court on Monday for an initial hearing, three other people are under arrest in Britain on suspicion of manslaughter and human trafficking. A fourth person is under arrest in Dublin. Watch - Essex: 39 bodies found in a lorry, police interrogate 25-year-old driver 'Beautiful day' In Yen Thanh, Nghe An province, dozens of worried relatives of 19-year-old Bui Thi Nhung gathered in the family's small courtyard home where her distraught mother has been unable to rise from her bed. "She said she was in France and on the way to the UK, where she has friends and relatives," said Nhung's cousin, Hoang Thi Linh. "We are waiting and hoping it's not her among the victims, but it's very likely. We pray for her every day. There were two people from my village travelling in that group". In comments under a photo uploaded to Nhung's Facebook account on Monday, two days before the doomed truck was discovered, one friend asked how her journey was going. "Not good," Nhung replied. "Almost spring," she said, using a term in Vietnamese meaning she had almost reached her destination. Other photos on her account show her sightseeing in Brussels on October 18. "Such a beautiful day," Nhung posted. Another person who may have died is Nguyen Dinh Tu, who had been working illegally in Romania, and Germany, where he lost his job. A few months ago, he asked his wife Hoang Thi Thuong to help him raise 11,000 pounds to cover the cost of an illicit trip from Germany to the United Kingdom. "I lost contact with him on October 21," Thuong told Reuters. "I have a big debt to pay, no hope, and no energy to do anything". Tu's father said relatives in the United Kingdom had told him that Tu was inside the truck, and had been planning to pick him up. "They were supposed to pick him up at the drop-off point but they called and said Tu was in that truck," Tu's father, Nguyen Dinh Sat, told Reuters. "I haven't heard anything from my son". Parents 'can't breathe' How the victims came to be in the truck is not yet known. Some 70 per cent of Vietnamese trafficking cases in the United Kingdom between 2009-2016 were for labour exploitation, including cannabis production and work in nail bars, according to a British government report last year. "Women and girls from rural areas are also considered more susceptible to trafficking," the report said. British police sought to reassure anyone living in Britain illegally that they would not be investigated if they came forward to help with the identification. "If you come to us, we will do all we can to put our arm around you and take you through this process, and establish as quickly as possible whether or not we have your loved involved in this tragic incident, and try and reunite you," Pasmore said. Nghe An is one of Vietnam's poorest provinces, and home to many victims of human trafficking who end up in Europe, according to a March report by the Pacific Links Foundation, a U.S.-based anti-trafficking organisation. Other victims are believed to come from the neighbouring province of Ha Tinh, Father Nam said. In the first eight months of this year, 41,790 people left Ha Tinh looking for work elsewhere, including overseas, according to state media. The province was ravaged by one of Vietnam's worst environmental disasters in 2016 when a steel mill owned by Taiwan's Formosa Plastics contaminated coastal waters, devastating local fishing and tourism industries. Another suspected victim from Ha Tinh, 26-year-old Pham Thi Tra My, had sent a text message to her mother saying she could not breathe at about the time the truck container was en route from Belgium to Britain. "That girl who said in her message that she couldn't breathe in the truck? Her parents can't breathe here at home," Nam said.

Rural Vietnamese mourn loved ones feared dead in back of British truck

US&nbsp;border&nbsp;officers apprehended more than 132,000 <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/not-nearly-enough-progress-made-in-immigration-talks-with-mexico-trump-224814">people crossing from&nbsp;Mexico&nbsp;</a>in May, an increase&nbsp;over&nbsp;the previous month and the&nbsp;highest&nbsp;monthly level since 2006,&nbsp;reaching what&nbsp;US&nbsp;officials said on Wednesday were "crisis"&nbsp;levels.

US&nbsp;President Donald Trump is frustrated with the rising number of mostly Central American migrants crossing into the United States and the new arrest numbers coincided with his threat to impose across-the-board&nbsp;tariffs on Mexican goods if&nbsp;Mexico&nbsp;does not do more to stem the flow of people.

"Our nation is experiencing unprecedented&nbsp;border&nbsp;security and humanitarian crisis on the southwest&nbsp;border, both at and between our ports of entry," Randy Howe, the executive director for operations, Office of Field Operations at&nbsp;US&nbsp;Customs and&nbsp;Border&nbsp;Protection,&nbsp;told reporters on a call.

He said on June 4 alone, CBP apprehended more than 4,100 people and had 19,293 people in custody.

"We are bursting at the seams. It is&nbsp;unsustainable," Howe said.

Trump made reducing illegal immigration one of his main platforms in the 2016 election campaign but he has had limited success in carrying out aspects of his policy as president.

Border&nbsp;agents apprehended 132,887 people on the southwest&nbsp;border&nbsp;in May, according to CBP data, a more than 30 per cent increase from April. The last time apprehensions topped that&nbsp;level&nbsp;was more than a&nbsp;decade&nbsp;ago in March 2006, the data shows.

Overall&nbsp;arrests&nbsp;were still lower than at other peak periods of illegal immigration since the 1970s. But&nbsp;US&nbsp;officials say they are struggling to handle a demographic shift in the type of migrants now crossing: from mainly single, adult Mexicans trying to cross clandestinely who could be turned around, to mostly families from Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras seeking asylum and who cannot be quickly deported under&nbsp;US&nbsp;law.

More than 63% of those apprehended in May were children and people travelling as families.

Border&nbsp;officials deemed a further 11,391 people "inadmissible" in May, up 12% from the previous month. That category includes people who present themselves for legal admission at a port of entry but are turned away and people who seek asylum at ports of entry.

To deal with the influx, 731 CBP officers have been redeployed from airports, seaports and legal ports of entry to assist with the processing of migrant families, which is increasing traveller and trade wait times, Howe said.

Border&nbsp;agents have been limiting the number of migrants they process at legal ports of entry, which immigration advocates say has pushed more people to try to cross illegally and turn themselves in.

Families Released

Most families are released to pursue their asylum claims in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/h-1b-visa-approvals-in-2018-dropped-10-us-immigration-data-224421">US&nbsp;immigration</a> courts because of legal limits on how long children can be held in detention. The pursuit of such claims can take years due to ballooning court backlogs.

Since March 19 this year,&nbsp;over&nbsp;75,000 non-criminal&nbsp;family&nbsp;units were released by&nbsp;Border&nbsp;Patrol, acting CBP Commissioner John Sanders said. "We began doing that because our facilities were&nbsp;over&nbsp;capacity."

"As word of mouth and social media continues&nbsp;to spread about the news of a quick release into the United States, more migrants are emboldened to make this dangerous journey," Sanders said on the call.

US&nbsp;officials say they do not have the proper facilities to handle the more than 55,000 children who passed through&nbsp;Border&nbsp;Patrol custody in May. A&nbsp;U.S. government watchdog reported "dangerous"&nbsp;overcrowding at one&nbsp;border&nbsp;patrol facility in El Paso, Texas.&nbsp;&nbsp;And at least six minors have died while they were in&nbsp;US&nbsp;custody or shortly after being released within the past year.

Border&nbsp;Patrol said it had rescued more than 3,000 people so far in the 2019 fiscal year, which began last October, including a "massive increase" in the number rescues&nbsp;of migrants crossing the Rio Grande river.

Migrants are increasingly trying to cross in large groups&nbsp;- 182 such groups&nbsp;have been caught so far this fiscal year compared to 13 in 2018 and just 2 in 2017. On May 30 in Del Rio, Texas, 117 migrants from Central and South Africa, were apprehended.

Just before Trump&nbsp;threatened&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-adviser-influential-senator-cast-doubt-on-mexico-tariffs-224742">tariffs on&nbsp;Mexico</a>&nbsp;last week, he tweeted a May 29&nbsp;Border&nbsp;Patrol video showing the apprehension of more than 1,000 migrants, mostly children and families.

US border officers apprehended more than 132,000 people crossing from Mexico in May, an increase over the previous month and the highest monthly level since 2006, reaching what US officials said on Wednesday were "crisis" levels.

US border officers apprehended more than 132,000 people crossing from Mexico in May, an increase over the previous month and the highest monthly level since 2006, reaching what US officials said on Wednesday were "crisis" levels. US President Donald Trump is frustrated with the rising number of mostly Central American migrants crossing into the United States and the new arrest numbers coincided with his threat to impose across-the-board tariffs on Mexican goods if Mexico does not do more to stem the flow of people. "Our nation is experiencing unprecedented border security and humanitarian crisis on the southwest border, both at and between our ports of entry," Randy Howe, the executive director for operations, Office of Field Operations at US Customs and Border Protection, told reporters on a call. He said on June 4 alone, CBP apprehended more than 4,100 people and had 19,293 people in custody. "We are bursting at the seams. It is unsustainable," Howe said. Trump made reducing illegal immigration one of his main platforms in the 2016 election campaign but he has had limited success in carrying out aspects of his policy as president. Border agents apprehended 132,887 people on the southwest border in May, according to CBP data, a more than 30 per cent increase from April. The last time apprehensions topped that level was more than a decade ago in March 2006, the data shows. Overall arrests were still lower than at other peak periods of illegal immigration since the 1970s. But US officials say they are struggling to handle a demographic shift in the type of migrants now crossing: from mainly single, adult Mexicans trying to cross clandestinely who could be turned around, to mostly families from Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras seeking asylum and who cannot be quickly deported under US law. More than 63% of those apprehended in May were children and people travelling as families. Border officials deemed a further 11,391 people "inadmissible" in May, up 12% from the previous month. That category includes people who present themselves for legal admission at a port of entry but are turned away and people who seek asylum at ports of entry. To deal with the influx, 731 CBP officers have been redeployed from airports, seaports and legal ports of entry to assist with the processing of migrant families, which is increasing traveller and trade wait times, Howe said. Border agents have been limiting the number of migrants they process at legal ports of entry, which immigration advocates say has pushed more people to try to cross illegally and turn themselves in. Families Released Most families are released to pursue their asylum claims in US immigration courts because of legal limits on how long children can be held in detention. The pursuit of such claims can take years due to ballooning court backlogs. Since March 19 this year, over 75,000 non-criminal family units were released by Border Patrol, acting CBP Commissioner John Sanders said. "We began doing that because our facilities were over capacity." "As word of mouth and social media continues to spread about the news of a quick release into the United States, more migrants are emboldened to make this dangerous journey," Sanders said on the call. US officials say they do not have the proper facilities to handle the more than 55,000 children who passed through Border Patrol custody in May. A U.S. government watchdog reported "dangerous" overcrowding at one border patrol facility in El Paso, Texas. And at least six minors have died while they were in US custody or shortly after being released within the past year. Border Patrol said it had rescued more than 3,000 people so far in the 2019 fiscal year, which began last October, including a "massive increase" in the number rescues of migrants crossing the Rio Grande river. Migrants are increasingly trying to cross in large groups - 182 such groups have been caught so far this fiscal year compared to 13 in 2018 and just 2 in 2017. On May 30 in Del Rio, Texas, 117 migrants from Central and South Africa, were apprehended. Just before Trump threatened tariffs on Mexico last week, he tweeted a May 29 Border Patrol video showing the apprehension of more than 1,000 migrants, mostly children and families.

US officials say 'crisis' level reached as over 1 lakh arrested for crossing Mexico border in May

Cuban woman begs for asylum at Mexico-US border

Disenfranchisement may be the first possible step against those whose names will not be part of the final list of the NRC to be published after the claims and objections window comes to an end next week, officials said Sunday.

As of now, just about 10 lakh people out of the total of 40 lakh who were excluded in the draft of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) have submitted applications for inclusion of their names in the list of Assam's citizens.

They have given relevant documents claiming that they are Indian citizens.

If someone cannot provide documents related to Indian citizenship, disenfranchisement may be the first possible step, a government official said.

However, a final decision on the fate of such paper-less people will be taken <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/sc-orders-reverification-of-10-of-people-excluded-from-assams-nrc-162106">by the Supreme Court</a>, which is supervising the massive exercise in Assam.

Following a directive of the Supreme Court, the process of filing claims and objections to the draft NRC began on September 25 and it will come to an end on December 15.

All those who were excluded from the draft NRC were given ample opportunities to prove their Indian citizenship, another official said.

If some people are not turning up to seek inclusion of their names in the NRC, it means they don't have the required documents, the official said.

The draft NRC was prepared with painstaking efforts with a robust mechanism and hence the chances of error is very limited, he said.

However, all those who will be excluded from the final NRC will have the right to approach the Citizenship Tribunals followed by the competent courts to challenge the decision of the NRC authorities.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had claimed that the NRC exercise was carried out with a "political motive" to divide people and warned that it would lead to "bloodbath" and a "civil war" in the country.

Following exclusion of over 40 lakh people in the draft NRC, Banerjee had also said those "Indian citizens have become refugees in their own land". She had alleged the NRC was an "attempt to evict the Bengalis from Assam".

The Supreme Court has also finalised a set of standard operating procedure (SOP) or disposal of claims and objections in the updating of the NRC.

The draft NRC was published on July 30 and included the names of 2.9 crore people out of the total applications of 3.29 crore.

There has been a huge controversy over the exclusion of 40 lakh people from the draft NRC.

Initially, the apex court had allowed the claimants to rely on any of the 10 documents land documents, permanent residential certificate issued from outside the state, passport, Life Insurance Corporation of India policy, any licence or certificate issued by any government authority, document showing service or employment under the government or public sector undertaking, bank or post office accounts, birth certificates issued by a competent authority, educational certificate issued by boards or universities and records or processes pertaining to court provided they are part of processing in a judicial or revenue court.

However, on November 1, the court allowed five additional documents to rely upon for inclusion of names in the NRC.

The additional papers are&nbsp;1951 NRC, electoral roll up to March 24, 1971, citizenship certificate, refugee registration certificate and ration card.

For the claims and objections process, forms are available in 2,500 Seva Kendras in Assam, where people can file their appeal in their respective areas.

People can file corrections to their names that are in the draft and also raise objections against suspected foreigners.

The NRC exercise, aimed at identifying illegal immigrants in the state that borders Bangladesh, was carried out only in Assam, which faced an influx of people from Bangladesh since the early 20th century.

When the NRC was first prepared in Assam way back in 1951, the state had 80 lakh citizens then.

As per the 2011 census, Assam's total population is over 3.11 crore. The process of identification of illegal immigrants in Assam has been widely debated and become a contentious issue in the state's politics.

A six-year agitation demanding identification and deportation of illegal immigrants was launched by the All Assam Students Union in 1979. It culminated with the signing of the Assam Accord on August 15, 1985, in the presence of the then prime minister Rajiv Gandhi.

Disenfranchisement may be the first possible step against those whose names will not be part of the final list of the NRC to be published after the claims and objections window comes to an end next week, officials said Sunday.

Disenfranchisement may be the first possible step against those whose names will not be part of the final list of the NRC to be published after the claims and objections window comes to an end next week, officials said Sunday. As of now, just about 10 lakh people out of the total of 40 lakh who were excluded in the draft of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) have submitted applications for inclusion of their names in the list of Assam's citizens. They have given relevant documents claiming that they are Indian citizens. If someone cannot provide documents related to Indian citizenship, disenfranchisement may be the first possible step, a government official said. However, a final decision on the fate of such paper-less people will be taken by the Supreme Court, which is supervising the massive exercise in Assam. Following a directive of the Supreme Court, the process of filing claims and objections to the draft NRC began on September 25 and it will come to an end on December 15. All those who were excluded from the draft NRC were given ample opportunities to prove their Indian citizenship, another official said. If some people are not turning up to seek inclusion of their names in the NRC, it means they don't have the required documents, the official said. The draft NRC was prepared with painstaking efforts with a robust mechanism and hence the chances of error is very limited, he said. However, all those who will be excluded from the final NRC will have the right to approach the Citizenship Tribunals followed by the competent courts to challenge the decision of the NRC authorities. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had claimed that the NRC exercise was carried out with a "political motive" to divide people and warned that it would lead to "bloodbath" and a "civil war" in the country. Following exclusion of over 40 lakh people in the draft NRC, Banerjee had also said those "Indian citizens have become refugees in their own land". She had alleged the NRC was an "attempt to evict the Bengalis from Assam". The Supreme Court has also finalised a set of standard operating procedure (SOP) or disposal of claims and objections in the updating of the NRC. The draft NRC was published on July 30 and included the names of 2.9 crore people out of the total applications of 3.29 crore. There has been a huge controversy over the exclusion of 40 lakh people from the draft NRC. Initially, the apex court had allowed the claimants to rely on any of the 10 documents land documents, permanent residential certificate issued from outside the state, passport, Life Insurance Corporation of India policy, any licence or certificate issued by any government authority, document showing service or employment under the government or public sector undertaking, bank or post office accounts, birth certificates issued by a competent authority, educational certificate issued by boards or universities and records or processes pertaining to court provided they are part of processing in a judicial or revenue court. However, on November 1, the court allowed five additional documents to rely upon for inclusion of names in the NRC. The additional papers are 1951 NRC, electoral roll up to March 24, 1971, citizenship certificate, refugee registration certificate and ration card. For the claims and objections process, forms are available in 2,500 Seva Kendras in Assam, where people can file their appeal in their respective areas. People can file corrections to their names that are in the draft and also raise objections against suspected foreigners. The NRC exercise, aimed at identifying illegal immigrants in the state that borders Bangladesh, was carried out only in Assam, which faced an influx of people from Bangladesh since the early 20th century. When the NRC was first prepared in Assam way back in 1951, the state had 80 lakh citizens then. As per the 2011 census, Assam's total population is over 3.11 crore. The process of identification of illegal immigrants in Assam has been widely debated and become a contentious issue in the state's politics. A six-year agitation demanding identification and deportation of illegal immigrants was launched by the All Assam Students Union in 1979. It culminated with the signing of the Assam Accord on August 15, 1985, in the presence of the then prime minister Rajiv Gandhi.

Disenfranchisement may be first possible step after final Assam NRC: Officials

US&nbsp;President Donald Trump said on Saturday that separating migrant families at the border could deter illegal immigration and that he was considering several options to tighten border security.

In June, Trump abandoned his policy of separating immigrant children from their parents on the US-Mexico border after images of youngsters in cages sparked outrage at home and abroad.

But some Trump administration officials have said the policy, under which some 2,600 children were separated from their parents, was needed to secure the border and deter illegal immigration.

Trump seemed to support that argument on Saturday.

"If they feel there will be separation, they don't come," he said of migrants during comments to reporters at the White House.

Trump also claimed, without providing evidence, that immigrants were "grabbing children and they're using children to come into our country in many cases." &nbsp;

He stopped short, however, of committing to a new round of family separations.

"We're looking at a lot of different things having to do with illegal immigration," he said, again calling on Congress to pass immigration legislation. "We're going to do whatever we can do to get it slowed down."

A new policy could establish illegal immigration as a major theme in mid-term congressional elections on Nov. 6, when Democrats are seen as having a good chance of regaining control of the House of Representatives.

Katie Waldman, a spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security, said on Saturday there was a crisis at the US-Mexico border with rising numbers of adults entering the country illegally with children.

"DHS will continue to enforce the law humanely, and will continue to examine a range of options to secure our nation's borders," she said.

Following reports that Trump might again authorize family separations, Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein and Representative Jerrold Nadler on Friday called on the administration to "provide a full accounting of their previous failed efforts."

A government audit released earlier this month said the Trump administration's "zero tolerance" immigration crackdown at the U.S.-Mexico border earlier this year was plagued by a lack of preparation, resource shortfalls and communication failures.

The audit found that hundreds of migrant children were detained for longer than the three-day limit allowed at US&nbsp;Border Patrol facilities, including one who was held for 25 days.

US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that separating migrant families at the border could deter illegal immigration and that he was considering several options to tighten border security.

US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that separating migrant families at the border could deter illegal immigration and that he was considering several options to tighten border security. In June, Trump abandoned his policy of separating immigrant children from their parents on the US-Mexico border after images of youngsters in cages sparked outrage at home and abroad. But some Trump administration officials have said the policy, under which some 2,600 children were separated from their parents, was needed to secure the border and deter illegal immigration. Trump seemed to support that argument on Saturday. "If they feel there will be separation, they don't come," he said of migrants during comments to reporters at the White House. Trump also claimed, without providing evidence, that immigrants were "grabbing children and they're using children to come into our country in many cases." He stopped short, however, of committing to a new round of family separations. "We're looking at a lot of different things having to do with illegal immigration," he said, again calling on Congress to pass immigration legislation. "We're going to do whatever we can do to get it slowed down." A new policy could establish illegal immigration as a major theme in mid-term congressional elections on Nov. 6, when Democrats are seen as having a good chance of regaining control of the House of Representatives. Katie Waldman, a spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security, said on Saturday there was a crisis at the US-Mexico border with rising numbers of adults entering the country illegally with children. "DHS will continue to enforce the law humanely, and will continue to examine a range of options to secure our nation's borders," she said. Following reports that Trump might again authorize family separations, Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein and Representative Jerrold Nadler on Friday called on the administration to "provide a full accounting of their previous failed efforts." A government audit released earlier this month said the Trump administration's "zero tolerance" immigration crackdown at the U.S.-Mexico border earlier this year was plagued by a lack of preparation, resource shortfalls and communication failures. The audit found that hundreds of migrant children were detained for longer than the three-day limit allowed at US Border Patrol facilities, including one who was held for 25 days.

Trump says separating children from families deters illegal immigration

The USA is the Promised Land for the Indian and Chinese, very much like Israel is for the Jews.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Bright minds of India, particularly, the engineers and scientists soon after completing their college education head for the Promised Land. The US is the destination, destiny, the desire. The country is looked upon as the key to all earthly pleasures.

&nbsp;

But all that aspiration and the dreams woven around it stands jeopardised as the Trump administration plans to change H1-B visa rules. If implemented, 5 lakh techies working in the US may have to head back home.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Trump administration is working to prevent an extension of the H1B visa beyond the initial six years period. This means that the indefinite extension on the H1B visa that all applicants to the Green Card previously used to get now will not be available. Consequently, on the completion of the 6 years of H1B visa period, one has to return to one&#39;s homeland. Though no one is still sure as to how the technicality of the entire procedure will work, the reality could well be something similar to self-deportation.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

For an Indian, the average waiting period for the Green Card is about 10 years. If I am giving up my life and profession in the US and coming to back to start fresh in India, why will I take the trouble to go back to the US and start from the scratch?

&nbsp;

The Trump administration is here surely washing its hands off of all the legal immigrants aspiring to be American citizens. The Promised Land stands bereft of all promises if the bills get passed. &nbsp;

&nbsp;

H1-B visa has been at the pivot of controversy through Trump&#39;s presidential campaign, accentuating, particularly, after his ascension to the White House. Trump had been insisting to make immigration in the US a thoroughly merit-based system. He wanted to stop illegal immigration and, as his rhetorics revealed, he was not receptive to the idea of family-based immigration either.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

But the crucial point I raised in one of my earlier article which stands even more relevant now with the current pronouncement is how is Trump administration going to reconcile its &quot;Buy American, Hire American&quot; policy with a merit-based immigration strategy.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Allow me to explain. If Trump decided to follow an entirely merit-based immigration system, the administration will have to allow in individuals with highest professional degrees. Their skill being the primary criterion of entry, such people will obviously dominate the job market. Apart from doing away with threats these qualified professional foreign force will pose to US citizens, the Trump administration is forcing corporations to match up with the salaries they are expected to pay to US citizens who come equally qualified for the jobs but were not succeeding because of the low pay scale at which Indian and Chinese usually agreed to work.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The low pay-scale at which Indians agreed to work in the US-based tech companies had earned them the pejorative epithet of &quot;tech coolies&quot;, that is, manual tech labourer or the blue-collar engineers of the tech world. Many have opined that the steps proposed by the Trump administration will force tech companies to pay a more equitable wage that will improve the prospect of American citizens.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

But the fallacy of the situation is that the Trump administration is committing is to make salary the basis for judging merit. The High Skilled Integrity and Fairness Act, introduced by Congressperson Zoe Lofgren of California, would raise H-1B holders&#39; minimum salaries to the US $130,000. Doing this would mean, losing out a significant number of talents in the field that are crucial but not well-paid. For instance, the average salary of a fire protection and fuel engineer is $130,000 and $123,000 respectively. Whereas a computer engineer on an average earns $121,245&nbsp; and healthcare facility engineer gets $120,027.

&nbsp;

Clearly, fixing such wage ceiling, along with the proposed H1B Bill, is surely go against India&#39;s interest. This is something which India&#39;s Finance minister Arun Jaitley raised with the US commerce secretary Wilbur Ross in the past.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Interestingly, while the Trump administration and the President himself have shown much keenness in forging a strong bond with India in its fight against terrorism, it is holding no bar to upset its new ally in an economically sensitive issue. It is yet to be seen how the Modi government which has been nothing short of friendly to Trump, a much-hated figure elsewhere, deals with these challenging circumstances.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL).

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The Trump administration is here surely washing its hands off of all the legal immigrants, meritorious or not, aspiring to be American citizens.

The USA is the Promised Land for the Indian and Chinese, very much like Israel is for the Jews. Bright minds of India, particularly, the engineers and scientists soon after completing their college education head for the Promised Land. The US is the destination, destiny, the desire. The country is looked upon as the key to all earthly pleasures. But all that aspiration and the dreams woven around it stands jeopardised as the Trump administration plans to change H1-B visa rules. If implemented, 5 lakh techies working in the US may have to head back home. Trump administration is working to prevent an extension of the H1B visa beyond the initial six years period. This means that the indefinite extension on the H1B visa that all applicants to the Green Card previously used to get now will not be available. Consequently, on the completion of the 6 years of H1B visa period, one has to return to one's homeland. Though no one is still sure as to how the technicality of the entire procedure will work, the reality could well be something similar to self-deportation. For an Indian, the average waiting period for the Green Card is about 10 years. If I am giving up my life and profession in the US and coming to back to start fresh in India, why will I take the trouble to go back to the US and start from the scratch? The Trump administration is here surely washing its hands off of all the legal immigrants aspiring to be American citizens. The Promised Land stands bereft of all promises if the bills get passed. H1-B visa has been at the pivot of controversy through Trump's presidential campaign, accentuating, particularly, after his ascension to the White House. Trump had been insisting to make immigration in the US a thoroughly merit-based system. He wanted to stop illegal immigration and, as his rhetorics revealed, he was not receptive to the idea of family-based immigration either. But the crucial point I raised in one of my earlier article which stands even more relevant now with the current pronouncement is how is Trump administration going to reconcile its "Buy American, Hire American" policy with a merit-based immigration strategy. Allow me to explain. If Trump decided to follow an entirely merit-based immigration system, the administration will have to allow in individuals with highest professional degrees. Their skill being the primary criterion of entry, such people will obviously dominate the job market. Apart from doing away with threats these qualified professional foreign force will pose to US citizens, the Trump administration is forcing corporations to match up with the salaries they are expected to pay to US citizens who come equally qualified for the jobs but were not succeeding because of the low pay scale at which Indian and Chinese usually agreed to work. The low pay-scale at which Indians agreed to work in the US-based tech companies had earned them the pejorative epithet of "tech coolies", that is, manual tech labourer or the blue-collar engineers of the tech world. Many have opined that the steps proposed by the Trump administration will force tech companies to pay a more equitable wage that will improve the prospect of American citizens. But the fallacy of the situation is that the Trump administration is committing is to make salary the basis for judging merit. The High Skilled Integrity and Fairness Act, introduced by Congressperson Zoe Lofgren of California, would raise H-1B holders' minimum salaries to the US $130,000. Doing this would mean, losing out a significant number of talents in the field that are crucial but not well-paid. For instance, the average salary of a fire protection and fuel engineer is $130,000 and $123,000 respectively. Whereas a computer engineer on an average earns $121,245 and healthcare facility engineer gets $120,027. Clearly, fixing such wage ceiling, along with the proposed H1B Bill, is surely go against India's interest. This is something which India's Finance minister Arun Jaitley raised with the US commerce secretary Wilbur Ross in the past. Interestingly, while the Trump administration and the President himself have shown much keenness in forging a strong bond with India in its fight against terrorism, it is holding no bar to upset its new ally in an economically sensitive issue. It is yet to be seen how the Modi government which has been nothing short of friendly to Trump, a much-hated figure elsewhere, deals with these challenging circumstances. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL).

Opinion: New H1B rules may put the 'Promised Land' out of bounds for Indians

&nbsp;A federal court judge in California on Monday blocked an executive order from President Donald Trump to deny some federal grants to so-called sanctuary cities, undermining the administration&#39;s crackdown on illegal immigration.

The judge, who blocked the order provisionally in April, issued a permanent injunction in the suit brought by the city and county of San Francisco and Santa Clara County, which said the order was unconstitutional.

&quot;The Counties have demonstrated that the Executive Order has caused and will cause them constitutional injuries by violating the separation of powers doctrine and depriving them of their Tenth and Fifth Amendment rights,&quot; U.S. District Judge William Orrick for the Northern District of California wrote in his order.

Trump issued the order in January, shortly after he was inaugurated, slashing funding to jurisdictions that refuse to comply with a statute that requires local governments to share information with U.S. immigration authorities.

As part of that policy, the Justice Department has sought to punish cities and other local jurisdictions that have joined a growing &quot;sanctuary&quot; movement aimed at shielding illegal immigrants from stepped-up deportation efforts.

&quot;The district court exceeded its authority today when it barred the president from instructing his cabinet members to enforce existing law,&quot; Department of Justice spokesman Devin O&rsquo;Malley said in a statement. &quot;The Justice Department will vindicate the president&rsquo;s lawful authority to direct the executive branch.&quot;

The department has already appealed the judge&#39;s prior ruling from April.

The Trump administration contends local authorities endanger public safety when they decline to hand over for deportation illegal immigrants arrested for crimes.

Dozens of local governments and cities, including New York, Los Angeles and Chicago, have joined the growing &quot;sanctuary&quot; movement.

Supporters of the sanctuary policy argue enlisting police cooperation in rounding up immigrants for removal undermines communities&#39; trust in local police, particularly among Latinos.

The Justice Department is concerned about localities&#39; compliance with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement requests to detain people up to 48 hours beyond their scheduled release time so that immigration officials can pick them up.

Some cities say they will only honor such requests when accompanied by criminal warrants, and that compliance is voluntary and not required under the statute.

Chicago also sued the federal government in August over the threats of funding cuts by the Justice Department. A federal judge sided with the city in September and issued a preliminary injunction barring the U.S. government from denying the public-safety grants.

The judge issued a permanent injunction in the suit brought by the city and county of San Francisco and Santa Clara County

A federal court judge in California on Monday blocked an executive order from President Donald Trump to deny some federal grants to so-called sanctuary cities, undermining the administration's crackdown on illegal immigration. The judge, who blocked the order provisionally in April, issued a permanent injunction in the suit brought by the city and county of San Francisco and Santa Clara County, which said the order was unconstitutional. "The Counties have demonstrated that the Executive Order has caused and will cause them constitutional injuries by violating the separation of powers doctrine and depriving them of their Tenth and Fifth Amendment rights," U.S. District Judge William Orrick for the Northern District of California wrote in his order. Trump issued the order in January, shortly after he was inaugurated, slashing funding to jurisdictions that refuse to comply with a statute that requires local governments to share information with U.S. immigration authorities. As part of that policy, the Justice Department has sought to punish cities and other local jurisdictions that have joined a growing "sanctuary" movement aimed at shielding illegal immigrants from stepped-up deportation efforts. "The district court exceeded its authority today when it barred the president from instructing his cabinet members to enforce existing law," Department of Justice spokesman Devin O’Malley said in a statement. "The Justice Department will vindicate the president’s lawful authority to direct the executive branch." The department has already appealed the judge's prior ruling from April. The Trump administration contends local authorities endanger public safety when they decline to hand over for deportation illegal immigrants arrested for crimes. Dozens of local governments and cities, including New York, Los Angeles and Chicago, have joined the growing "sanctuary" movement. Supporters of the sanctuary policy argue enlisting police cooperation in rounding up immigrants for removal undermines communities' trust in local police, particularly among Latinos. The Justice Department is concerned about localities' compliance with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement requests to detain people up to 48 hours beyond their scheduled release time so that immigration officials can pick them up. Some cities say they will only honor such requests when accompanied by criminal warrants, and that compliance is voluntary and not required under the statute. Chicago also sued the federal government in August over the threats of funding cuts by the Justice Department. A federal judge sided with the city in September and issued a preliminary injunction barring the U.S. government from denying the public-safety grants.

US judge in California blocks Trump's order on sanctuary cities

Donald Trump&#39;s attorney general warned US cities that turning a blind eye to illegal migrants could jeopardise billions in federal funding, as the administration doubled down on tough immigration policies Monday.

Jeff Sessions demanded so-called &quot;sanctuary cities&quot; -- from Boston to Chicago to Los Angeles -- do more to turn illegal immigrants over to the federal authorities for deportation.

&quot;The Department of Justice has a duty to enforce our nation&#39;s laws, including our immigration laws,&quot; he said from the White House. &quot;Unfortunately, some states and cities have adopted policies designed to frustrate this enforcement of immigration laws.&quot;

The Justice Department would work to claw back grants worth around $4.1 billion a year, he warned.

The 70-year-old former senator zeroed in on the issue of illegal immigrants who have been convicted or detained on suspicion of serious crimes.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions has a long voting record&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ontheissues.org/Domestic/Jeff_Sessions_Civil_Rights.htm" target="_blank">opposing </a>civil rights. Yesterday he walked away from a question posed to him by a black reporter about the white supremacist&nbsp;who confessed to murdering a black man to &quot;send a message&quot; in New York City.&nbsp;

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
AG Sessions ran out as black reporter asked about White Supremacist who killed black man in NYC: &quot;Is that a hate crime, sir?&quot; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PressBriefing?src=hash">#PressBriefing</a> <a href="https://t.co/MISjILlFpD">pic.twitter.com/MISjILlFpD</a>
&mdash; Deep South Daily (@DeepSouthDaily) <a href="https://twitter.com/DeepSouthDaily/status/846421426605297668">March 27, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Trump&#39;s backers in the far right-wing media often feature stories about Hispanic immigrants who have committed violent crimes while in the country illegally. Jeff Sessions echoed this.

He cited examples of those involved in &quot;drug trafficking, hit and run, rape, sex offenses against a child and even murder&quot;.

&quot;Assaults, burglaries, drug crimes, gang rapes, crimes against children and murderers,&quot; Sessions said.

&quot;Countless Americans would be alive today and countless loved ones would not be grieving today if these policies of sanctuary cities were ended.&quot; &quot;These policies endanger lives of every American,&quot; he added.

The Trump administration is trying to force local police to keep immigrants detained until the immigration authorities -- with their more limited resources -- can show up.

However, the administration&#39;s critics accuses it of creating a climate of fear, and falsely associating immigrants with criminality.&nbsp;They point to multiple studies that show immigrants commit crime at lower rates than native-born citizens.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&#39;Police state&#39;

The Lawyers&#39; Committee for Civil Rights accused Sessions of trying to &quot;create a police state&quot; where local law enforcement &quot;are acting at the behest of the federal government to round up immigrants in communities across the country&quot;.

Some local law enforcement officials in cities with large migrant populations warn that such a policy would poison community relations.

In January, police chiefs from major cities stressed they wanted to tackle crime, whoever carries it out.

&quot;Cities that aim to build trusting and supportive relations with immigrant communities should not be punished because this is essential to reducing crime and helping victims,&quot; the group said in a joint statement with mayors.

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti gave an equally strident response, accusing Sessions of trying to push local authorities into unconstitutional actions.

&quot;LA&#39;s values are not for sale,&quot; he said. &quot;There are constitutional protections against the kind of punitive, counterproductive actions proposed today by the attorney general.&quot;

&quot;Slashing funds for first responders, for our port and airport, for counterterrorism, crime fighting and community building serves no one -- not this city, not the federal government, not the American people.&quot;

San Francisco insisted that &quot;sanctuary cities are safer cities&quot;.

&quot;When immigrants can enrol their children in school, access health care for vaccinations, and report crimes, our city and county is safer,&quot; said Deirdre Hussey, spokeswoman for San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee.

&quot;It is shocking that the US attorney general, the nation&#39;s top law enforcement official, does not agree with this basic principle of public safety.&quot;

The debate is unlikely to be resolved soon, with many legal issues expected to be taken up in the courts.

Legal experts question whether immigration offenses should be treated as criminal acts or whether so-called detainer orders from the federal authorities provide legal grounds for local detention.

(AFP)

Jeff Sessions, like far-right media, focused on aggressive crimes committed by immigrants even though reports say this link is unfounded

Donald Trump's attorney general warned US cities that turning a blind eye to illegal migrants could jeopardise billions in federal funding, as the administration doubled down on tough immigration policies Monday. Jeff Sessions demanded so-called "sanctuary cities" -- from Boston to Chicago to Los Angeles -- do more to turn illegal immigrants over to the federal authorities for deportation. "The Department of Justice has a duty to enforce our nation's laws, including our immigration laws," he said from the White House. "Unfortunately, some states and cities have adopted policies designed to frustrate this enforcement of immigration laws." The Justice Department would work to claw back grants worth around $4.1 billion a year, he warned. The 70-year-old former senator zeroed in on the issue of illegal immigrants who have been convicted or detained on suspicion of serious crimes. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has a long voting record opposing civil rights. Yesterday he walked away from a question posed to him by a black reporter about the white supremacist who confessed to murdering a black man to "send a message" in New York City. AG Sessions ran out as black reporter asked about White Supremacist who killed black man in NYC: "Is that a hate crime, sir?" #PressBriefing pic.twitter.com/MISjILlFpD — Deep South Daily (@DeepSouthDaily) March 27, 2017 × Trump's backers in the far right-wing media often feature stories about Hispanic immigrants who have committed violent crimes while in the country illegally. Jeff Sessions echoed this. He cited examples of those involved in "drug trafficking, hit and run, rape, sex offenses against a child and even murder". "Assaults, burglaries, drug crimes, gang rapes, crimes against children and murderers," Sessions said. "Countless Americans would be alive today and countless loved ones would not be grieving today if these policies of sanctuary cities were ended." "These policies endanger lives of every American," he added. The Trump administration is trying to force local police to keep immigrants detained until the immigration authorities -- with their more limited resources -- can show up. However, the administration's critics accuses it of creating a climate of fear, and falsely associating immigrants with criminality. They point to multiple studies that show immigrants commit crime at lower rates than native-born citizens. 'Police state' The Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights accused Sessions of trying to "create a police state" where local law enforcement "are acting at the behest of the federal government to round up immigrants in communities across the country". Some local law enforcement officials in cities with large migrant populations warn that such a policy would poison community relations. In January, police chiefs from major cities stressed they wanted to tackle crime, whoever carries it out. "Cities that aim to build trusting and supportive relations with immigrant communities should not be punished because this is essential to reducing crime and helping victims," the group said in a joint statement with mayors. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti gave an equally strident response, accusing Sessions of trying to push local authorities into unconstitutional actions. "LA's values are not for sale," he said. "There are constitutional protections against the kind of punitive, counterproductive actions proposed today by the attorney general." "Slashing funds for first responders, for our port and airport, for counterterrorism, crime fighting and community building serves no one -- not this city, not the federal government, not the American people." San Francisco insisted that "sanctuary cities are safer cities". "When immigrants can enrol their children in school, access health care for vaccinations, and report crimes, our city and county is safer," said Deirdre Hussey, spokeswoman for San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee. "It is shocking that the US attorney general, the nation's top law enforcement official, does not agree with this basic principle of public safety." The debate is unlikely to be resolved soon, with many legal issues expected to be taken up in the courts. Legal experts question whether immigration offenses should be treated as criminal acts or whether so-called detainer orders from the federal authorities provide legal grounds for local detention. (AFP)

US attorney general threatens to make city funding conditional on kicking out illegal immigrants

The United States is considering separating immigrant children from their parents in a bid to deter illegal migration, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary John Kelly said Monday.

Kelly, in an interview with CNN, was asked whether DHS was weighing an initiative that would split children from their parents if they were caught trying to enter the US illegally.

&quot;I would do almost anything to deter the people from Central America to getting on this very, very dangerous network that brings them up through Mexico into the United States,&quot; Kelly said. &quot;We have tremendous experience in dealing with unaccompanied minors,&quot; he said.&nbsp;

He noted the DHS turns them over to the Health and Human Services department, which puts the children in foster care or links them with parents or family members in the United States.

&quot;Yes, I am considering, in order to deter more movement along this terribly dangerous network, I am considering exactly that. They will be well-cared for as we deal with their parents.&quot;

The<a href="http://nypost.com/2017/03/06/homeland-security-chief-considering-separating-illegal-immigrant-kids-from-parents/" target="_blank"> New York Post</a> reports that Homeland Security officials say that people trying to sneak into the US bring along kids to take advantage of the system, which allows adults with children to stay in the country until their case is heard.&nbsp;

The New York Post says that tens of thousands of parents and children mostly fleeing violence in Central American countries have been caught trying to cross into the US illegally in recent years. While the families are usually detained for a few days or week before an immigration judge decides their case. If their case goes to a federal immigration court, it can take years.

One unnamed official told CNN, &quot;We are seeing kids essentially kidnapped and used to get here and stay,&quot; The report said.

The proposal would allow&nbsp;US immigration officials to keep the children separated from the adults who brought them to the US, <a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2017/03/03/politics/dhs-children-adults-border/" target="_blank">CNN </a>reports. The adults could be kept in detention, while the children could be moved elsewhere under protected status, possibly with family already in the US or in state protective custody, such as the child protective services, <a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2017/03/03/politics/dhs-children-adults-border/" target="_blank">CNN reports</a>.

&nbsp;

President Donald Trump ran on a platform arguing that mass immigration by unskilled workers costs US taxpayers billions of dollars and depresses wages and job opportunities.

He vowed to build a wall on the Mexican border to keep out migrants he branded drug-dealers, murderers and rapists.

Federal agents in recent weeks have launched sweeps across the country to round up undocumented immigrants.

Kelly spoke after Trump earlier in the day signed a revised ban on refugees and on travellers from six Muslim-majority nations.

With his first executive order rejected by federal courts, the new, scaled-back order freezes refugee admissions for 120 days and halts new visas for Syrians, Iranians, Libyans, Somalis, Yemenis and Sudanese citizens for 90 days.

The order takes effect March 16.

(WION with inputs from AFP)

'Yes...I am considering exactly that. They will be well-cared for as we deal with their parents,' said Homeland Security chief John Kelly

The United States is considering separating immigrant children from their parents in a bid to deter illegal migration, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary John Kelly said Monday. Kelly, in an interview with CNN, was asked whether DHS was weighing an initiative that would split children from their parents if they were caught trying to enter the US illegally. "I would do almost anything to deter the people from Central America to getting on this very, very dangerous network that brings them up through Mexico into the United States," Kelly said. "We have tremendous experience in dealing with unaccompanied minors," he said. He noted the DHS turns them over to the Health and Human Services department, which puts the children in foster care or links them with parents or family members in the United States. "Yes, I am considering, in order to deter more movement along this terribly dangerous network, I am considering exactly that. They will be well-cared for as we deal with their parents." The New York Post reports that Homeland Security officials say that people trying to sneak into the US bring along kids to take advantage of the system, which allows adults with children to stay in the country until their case is heard. The New York Post says that tens of thousands of parents and children mostly fleeing violence in Central American countries have been caught trying to cross into the US illegally in recent years. While the families are usually detained for a few days or week before an immigration judge decides their case. If their case goes to a federal immigration court, it can take years. One unnamed official told CNN, "We are seeing kids essentially kidnapped and used to get here and stay," The report said. The proposal would allow US immigration officials to keep the children separated from the adults who brought them to the US, CNN reports. The adults could be kept in detention, while the children could be moved elsewhere under protected status, possibly with family already in the US or in state protective custody, such as the child protective services, CNN reports. President Donald Trump ran on a platform arguing that mass immigration by unskilled workers costs US taxpayers billions of dollars and depresses wages and job opportunities. He vowed to build a wall on the Mexican border to keep out migrants he branded drug-dealers, murderers and rapists. Federal agents in recent weeks have launched sweeps across the country to round up undocumented immigrants. Kelly spoke after Trump earlier in the day signed a revised ban on refugees and on travellers from six Muslim-majority nations. With his first executive order rejected by federal courts, the new, scaled-back order freezes refugee admissions for 120 days and halts new visas for Syrians, Iranians, Libyans, Somalis, Yemenis and Sudanese citizens for 90 days. The order takes effect March 16. (WION with inputs from AFP)

US mulls separating children of illegal immigrants from parents caught at Mexico border

With many countries across the world worrying that migration is running out of control, Mexico&#39;s President Enrique Pena Nieto took an opposing stand.&nbsp; 
 
In an address at the United Nations summit on migrants and refugees on Monday, Pena Nieto said the history has proven that efforts to stop immigration and the mix of cultures are bound to fail. 
 
&quot;History shows that there are no barriers that can stop either the movement of people or the fusion of cultures,&quot; he said. 
 
Pena Nieto&#39;s popularity took a hit in his country for hosting Republican US presidential candidate Donald Trump on August 31.&nbsp; 
 
Trump&#39;s tirade against immigrants and his vows to build a border wall with Mexico has become an issue in both the countries.&nbsp; 
 
Pena Nieto asserted, &quot;Neither natural nor artificial barriers hold sway. For every river there has always been a bridge. For every obstacle there has always been a way forward. Movement is an essential part of human existence.&quot; 
 
Trump has infuriated Mexicans with a series of verbal attacks against the United States&#39; southern neighbor. 
 
&quot;We are a proudly mestizo, multi-cultural and diverse nation,&quot; Pena Nieto said, referring to Mexican of mixed descent. 
 
&quot;We Mexicans firmly believe that this mestizo fusion is the future and destiny of human kind.&quot; 
 
At the summit, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development urged Western governments to help newcomers integrate faster to tackle the growing anti-migrant backlash.&nbsp; 
 
It presented a report to the UN saying the newcomers included a record 1.65 million registered new asylum seekers, nearly 1.3 million of them in Europe. 
 
&quot;The public is losing faith in the capacity of governments to manage migration,&quot; the OECD&#39;s International Migration Outlook report warned. 
 
Citizens of host countries worry that public services are overstretched, that immigration only benefits the rich and that migrants do not want to integrate, the OECD&#39;s director for employment, labour and social affairs, Stefano Scarpetta said. 
 
This includes recognising that large numbers of low-skilled migrants arriving in an area could damage the job prospects of low-skilled locals. 
 
&quot;The big task, the big challenge now is integration,&quot; OECD Secretary General Angel Gurria said at the launch of the report in Paris. 
 
(WION with inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

President Pena Nieto's meeting with Donald Trump, despite his talk of a border wall with Mexico, has infuriated Mexicans

With many countries across the world worrying that migration is running out of control, Mexico's President Enrique Pena Nieto took an opposing stand. In an address at the United Nations summit on migrants and refugees on Monday, Pena Nieto said the history has proven that efforts to stop immigration and the mix of cultures are bound to fail. "History shows that there are no barriers that can stop either the movement of people or the fusion of cultures," he said. Pena Nieto's popularity took a hit in his country for hosting Republican US presidential candidate Donald Trump on August 31. Trump's tirade against immigrants and his vows to build a border wall with Mexico has become an issue in both the countries. Pena Nieto asserted, "Neither natural nor artificial barriers hold sway. For every river there has always been a bridge. For every obstacle there has always been a way forward. Movement is an essential part of human existence." Trump has infuriated Mexicans with a series of verbal attacks against the United States' southern neighbor. "We are a proudly mestizo, multi-cultural and diverse nation," Pena Nieto said, referring to Mexican of mixed descent. "We Mexicans firmly believe that this mestizo fusion is the future and destiny of human kind." At the summit, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development urged Western governments to help newcomers integrate faster to tackle the growing anti-migrant backlash. It presented a report to the UN saying the newcomers included a record 1.65 million registered new asylum seekers, nearly 1.3 million of them in Europe. "The public is losing faith in the capacity of governments to manage migration," the OECD's International Migration Outlook report warned. Citizens of host countries worry that public services are overstretched, that immigration only benefits the rich and that migrants do not want to integrate, the OECD's director for employment, labour and social affairs, Stefano Scarpetta said. This includes recognising that large numbers of low-skilled migrants arriving in an area could damage the job prospects of low-skilled locals. "The big task, the big challenge now is integration," OECD Secretary General Angel Gurria said at the launch of the report in Paris. (WION with inputs from agencies)

No barriers can stop immigration: Mexican President at UN migration summit

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump reasserted his hardline position against illegal immigrants in the country, hours after he came back from Mexico having met president Enrique Pena Nieto.&nbsp; 
 
Reiterating his plans to curb illegal immigration into the country, Trump said he would &quot;build a great wall along the southern border&quot; if he came to power. 
 
&quot;And Mexico will pay for the wall -- 100 per cent. They don&#39;t know it yet but they are going to pay for the wall,&quot; he said while making a public speech in Arizona. 
 
The statement comes some time after Mexican president Nieto told Trump in a face-to-face meeting that Mexico would not incur the costs of building the wall. 
 
&quot;At the beginning of the conversation with Donald Trump I made it clear that Mexico will not pay for the wall,&quot; Pena Nieto had said in a tweet. 
 
Trump, meanwhile, adopted a tough stance in Arizona against the &quot;11 million&quot; illegal immigrants in the US. 
 
He said people will be have to return to their home country and re-apply again to enter the United States.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;Our message to the world will be this: You cannot obtain legal status or become a citizen of the United States by illegally entering our country,&quot; Trump said. 
 
&quot;People will know you can`t just smuggle in, hunker down and wait to be legalized,&quot; he said. 
 
(WION with inputs from AFP)

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump's comments come hours after Mexican president refused to pay for the wall

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump reasserted his hardline position against illegal immigrants in the country, hours after he came back from Mexico having met president Enrique Pena Nieto. Reiterating his plans to curb illegal immigration into the country, Trump said he would "build a great wall along the southern border" if he came to power. "And Mexico will pay for the wall -- 100 per cent. They don't know it yet but they are going to pay for the wall," he said while making a public speech in Arizona. The statement comes some time after Mexican president Nieto told Trump in a face-to-face meeting that Mexico would not incur the costs of building the wall. "At the beginning of the conversation with Donald Trump I made it clear that Mexico will not pay for the wall," Pena Nieto had said in a tweet. Trump, meanwhile, adopted a tough stance in Arizona against the "11 million" illegal immigrants in the US. He said people will be have to return to their home country and re-apply again to enter the United States. "Our message to the world will be this: You cannot obtain legal status or become a citizen of the United States by illegally entering our country," Trump said. "People will know you can`t just smuggle in, hunker down and wait to be legalized," he said. (WION with inputs from AFP)

Mexico will pay for border wall: Trump

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