Freaky Friday

Beginning tomorrow, ICE will launch an operation reportedly named “Freaky Friday,” targeting unaccompanied children aged 14 and older of all nationalities.

What we’ve learned:

1. Children detained and released will be sent a “threat” letter from ICE threatening indefinite detention and immediate transfer to ICE upon age-out if they do not waive jurisdiction under the TVPRA and withdraw applications for relief

2. Children will be offered $2,500 to return to their countries of origin

3. If children do not comply with the “offer”, the letter intimates their parents in the US will be arrested

4. ICE plans to detain all age-outs, and they anticipate legal challenges.

5. There are indications that the age threshold for this threat letter may be lowered to 10 years old.

6. We understand they plan to first target detained children but will also target children released from custody.

Given this alarming information, we strongly encourage all LSPs, to the extent possible, to:

1. Provide Know Your Rights (KYR) presentations to all children they are working with in custody as soon as practicable, advising them of this plan and their right not to sign anything without consulting their attorney. Also, consider advising children out of custody of the possibilty of receiving a letter.

2. File L-3 forms for all children in custody, as capacity allows.

3. If a child receives a letter, please consider preparing a declaration that particularly highlights the manner in which this ICE letter was delivered (were counsel present and able to advise, were youth able to ask questions), evidence of coercion or intimidation, underlying fear of return elements related to child’s relief application. Litigators are coordinating and we will provide more information shortly on who to direct these decs to.

4. Please report concerns to the HHS Ombudsman office here: UCOO@acf.hhs.gov

Link

https://www.reddit.com/r/illinois/comments/1nwnm9u/ice_targeting_children_in_illinois/?