SC Alaska News

U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Michael Bennet have addressed the U.S. Department of Justice's Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) regarding a recent policy shift that has raised concerns about protections for unaccompanied migrant children. The senators, representing Alaska and Colorado respectively, have voiced bipartisan apprehension following EOIR’s decision to revert to its 2017 guidelines, which they argue could compromise safeguards and increase inefficiencies within the immigration court system.

Murkowski and Bennet emphasized that the 2023 memorandum they seek to preserve "established specialized juvenile dockets with dedicated judges, child-appropriate court practices, and stronger safeguards against trafficking." They noted that the shift back to 2017 guidelines could revive "a tone of suspicion toward unaccompanied minors rather than recognizing their vulnerabilities and need for fair proceedings."

The senators urged EOIR to maintain fair and efficient immigration processes, stressing the importance of safeguarding children against trafficking. They highlighted the need for specialized juvenile dockets and effective interagency coordination to avoid unnecessary delays and ensure due process.

In support of these protective measures, Murkowski and Bennet have introduced the Immigration Court Efficiency and Children’s Court Act. This bipartisan legislation aims to establish a dedicated Children's Court within EOIR, thereby addressing court backlogs and reinforcing due process rights for unaccompanied migrant children.

Their letter to Acting Director Owen articulates their concerns over the policy reversal and underscores congressional intentions to balance court efficiency with fairness. "We urge EOIR to consider these principles moving forward," they stated, reaffirming their commitment to reforms in immigration court procedures.