The Houston Chronicle is featuring an article about the National Immigrant Bond Fund. First, it caught my attention because it was about immigrants. Surprise!
Second, I think people who are arrested for suspicion of breaking immigration laws are entitled to due process of the law. ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) does make mistakes, including deporting U.S. citizens.
The National Immigrant Bond Fund will help people have access to the justice system and exercise their limited rights. The Goals of the National Immigrant Bond Fund include:
- Provide
a matching fund program that ensures that immigrants have a stake in
the outcome and adhere to the terms of the bond. By making a “pledge of
money”, individuals have an incentive to pay back the bond on
completion of their legal process so that the funds are then returned
to the program to help other immigrants caught in other raids.
- Create
a fund to assist immigrants, swept up in ICE enforcement actions and
not charged with criminal convictions, to post bond so that they can
assert their right to legal counsel and due process in court.
- Build
public opposition against immigration raids and support for immigration
reform by focusing on the lack of rights afforded detainees.
- Support
local communities efforts to respond effectively to ICE enforcement
actions and raise public awareness of the need for detained immigrants
to access due process.
For more information, see the website.
