Cory 2020
For Immediate Release:

July 2, 2019

Cory Booker Won’t Wait for Congress: He Will Immediately Act Through Executive Authority to Virtually Eliminate Immigration Detention and End the Crisis at the Border 

On Day One, Cory Will Take Executive Action To Virtually Eliminate Immigration Detention, Restore and Expand DACA, DAPA, TPS Protections, and Treat Immigrants with Dignity

Cory Will Undo the Trump Administration’s Anti-Immigrant Policies, Modernize the Immigration System, and Address the Root Causes of the Crisis

Newark, NJ – Today, Cory Booker is outlining executive actions he will take beginning on day one of his presidency to virtually eliminate immigration detention and put an end to the humanitarian crisis at the border and in detention centers across the country.

Without waiting for Congress to act, Cory will stop the treatment of immigrants as criminals, close inhumane DHS facilities, end the use of for-profit detention facilities and end unnecessary barriers for refugees and those seeking asylum to virtually eliminate immigrant detention.

As president, Cory will fight for legislation in Congress to reform our broken immigration system in a comprehensive way, but he won’t wait to act to end the system of mass detention. He will repair the deep fractures in trust and alleviate the fear that has been sown in communities across America by the Trump Administration’s immigration policy. Cory won’t wait to provide relief for Dreamers and their families and give them the security they deserve. 

“When kids are being stripped away from their parents and held in cages, I will not wait for Congress to solve this crisis,” said Cory Booker. “On day one of my presidency, I will take immediate steps to end this administration’s moral vandalism. 

“And although there are limits on what we can do to reverse the damage that has already been done to the lives of thousands and to communities across our country, we can put an end to the horror, and turn the page to a new chapter of our history. Our country must have an immigration system that reflects our values, not one that strips dignity away from people fleeing danger, threats, and violence.” 

Beginning on day one of his presidency, Cory Booker will use his executive authority to reform our immigration system by:

  • Restoring and expanding protections for as many Dreamers as possible, their families, individuals with Temporary Protected Status, and those with Deferred Enforced Departure status. 
     
  • Shutting down inhumane facilities and require all facilities to meet high standards, and face new accountability and public transparency requirements. 
     
  • Phasing out contracting with private prison facilities and county or local prisons.
     
  • Ending abusive detention conditions and unnecessary delays for children and families to be released from detention.
     
  • Creating a presumption of liberty for immigrants by reforming the bond process in immigration court.
     
  • Expanding access to legal counsel for all immigrants, starting with immigrant children.
     
  • Reversing President Trump’s “zero-tolerance” policy and direct U.S. attorneys to deprioritize improper entry prosecutions across the U.S., unless an individual poses a public safety risk.
     
  • Stopping the practice of terrorizing immigrants in their homes and communities by reforming ICE and CBP practices and increasing accountability. 
     
  • Revoking the orders against sanctuary cities and interior enforcement.
     
  • Expanding pathways for refugees and those seeking asylum, including ending the Remain in Mexico policy and asylum metering, and increasing the cap on refugees to a minimum of 110,000.
     
  • Taking steps to end the backlog of immigration cases by undoing Department of Justice policies that have contributed to the backlog like case quotas. 
     
  • Reinstating and expanding the Central American Minors Program to allow more children and their families to apply for asylum in their home countries. 
     
  • Rescinding the proposed public charge rule that targets immigrant families.
     
  • Focusing on the root causes of migration by using the full power of our diplomatic tools to address the root causes of migration.
As mayor, Cory took steps to protect the safety and well-being of all of his city’s residents, and in the Senate, Cory has fought to end the costly, cruel, and unnecessary mass detention of immigrants and immigrant families, reform immigration enforcement, and to address the root causes of the current migration crisis.


Read the full details of Cory’s immigration plan here.
 
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