Committee on Human Relations
ORDER
WHEREAS, President Donald Trump has recently invoked national security power in order to deny asylum to any migrants who cross the border illegally thus violating federal and international law; and
WHEREAS, in June of 2018, the Trump administration overturned asylum protections for domestic violence and gang violence victims that prevent tens of thousands of immigrants from getting protection in the United States; and
WHEREAS, at that time, the United States Attorney General said that in order to qualify for asylum protection, not only must the government of the home country be unable or unwilling to help the victims, but also "the applicant must show that government condoned the private actions or demonstrated an inability to protect the victims;" and
WHEREAS, on November 1, 2018, President Trump delivered a harsh speech on immigration including a warning that the United States military would be armed and ready to shoot if migrants from the Central America caravan heading toward the border threatened the soldiers with rocks; and
WHEREAS, Pentagon spokesman Lt. Col. Jamie Davis said, "We will not discuss hypothetical situations or specific measures within our rules on the use of force, but our forces are trained professionals who always have the inherent right of self-dense;" and
WHEREAS, after announcing the deployment of 5,200 troops to the border to join 2,000 members ofthe National Guard already stationed there, Gen. Terrence O'Shaughnessy said that the troops would follow "the standard rules for use of force" when operating within the United States, which means "deadly force is justified only when there is a reasonable belief that the subject of such force poses imminent threat of death or serious bodily harm to a person;" and
WHEREAS, on November 8, 2018, the Trump administration published the rule that would place all future illegal border crossers - those arrested between ports of entry - into detention with expedit...
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