The Trump administration has quietly started implementing its latest measure aimed at easing the strain of immigration courts tasked with a growing backlog of asylum cases at the southern border.A new tent court, or “soft-sided” facility, began operating this week in Laredo, Texas, to help handle the tens of thousands of cases of asylum seekers that were part of the so-called “Remain in Mexico” program. Others are expected to open soon in Brownsville, in the Rio Grande Valley, the busiest corridor for illegal crossings, and in Yuma, Arizona. The hearings at these tent courts are held entirely by video conference — as was the case Thursday morning of a woman, a migrant from Cuba named Lorena, who had been bussed from Mexico to the temporary court in Laredo. The judge on her case was 160 miles northeast, in a courtroom in downtown San Antonio, The New York Times reported. Located a short distance from the Rio Grande, the Migrant Protection Protocols Immigration Hearing Facilities in Laredo, Texas, are adjacent to the Gateway to the Americas International Bridge. (Ricardo Santos/The Laredo Morning Times via AP) BORDER APPREHENSIONS PLUNGE AS TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAILS MEXICO PACT The "Remain" program, which the U.S. ramped up this summer with Mexico's cooperation, has been credited by American officials with a significant reduction of the number of migrant apprehensions at the southern border, a key goal of President Trump. Asylum claims have spiked since 2010, and there is currently a backlog of more than 800,000 cases pending in immigration court. Most asylum claims often fail to meet the legal standard after they are reviewed by asylum judges, and only about 20 percent of applicants are approved. The new tents were built near international bridges in the two Texas towns on the property of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection. They have a walkway from each bridge that eventually leads to courtrooms with video-conferencing equipment. Stuff animals, story books and small chairs fill the Juvenile waiting area at the Migrant Protection Protocols Immigration Hearing Facilities in Laredo, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2019. (Ricardo Santos/The Laredo Morning Times via AP) SUPREME COURT ALLOWS TRUMP ASYLUM RESTRICTIONS TO TAKE EFFECT, ENDING 9TH CIRCUIT INJUNCTIONS While judges hold the hearings remotely, U.S. officials said if attorneys have formally agreed to represent migrants, they will be allowed to attend hearings in person. However, outside attorneys who routinely observe immigration proceedings will not be allowed at the hearings. Media outlets will not be allowed into the tents without permission either. Under U.S. Department of Justice rules, immigration court hearings are generally open to the public, though immigration judges can some hearings for privacy reasons or to protect "the public interest." One official said the government might allow potential observers to submit applications "as we move forward." A view shows U.S. Customs a
‘Tent courts’ set up at border towns to ease strain on immigration cases
The Trump administration has quietly started implementing its latest measure aimed at easing the strain of immigration courts tasked with a growing backlog of asylum cases at the southern border.A new tent court, or “soft-sided” facility, began operating this week in Laredo, Texas, to help handle the tens of thousands of cases of asylum seekers that were part of the so-called “Remain in Mexico” program. Others are expected to open soon in Brownsville, in the Rio Grande Valley, the busiest corridor for illegal crossings, and in Yuma, Arizona. The hearings at these tent courts are held entirely by video conference — as was the case Thursday morning of a woman, a migrant from Cuba named Lorena, who had been bussed from Mexico to the temporary court in Laredo. The judge on her case was 160 miles northeast, in a courtroom in downtown San Antonio, The New York Times reported. Located a short distance from the Rio Grande, the Migrant Protection Protocols Immigration Hearing Facilities in Laredo, Texas, are adjacent to the Gateway to the Americas International Bridge. (Ricardo Santos/The Laredo Morning Times via AP) BORDER APPREHENSIONS PLUNGE AS TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAILS MEXICO PACT The "Remain" program, which the U.S. ramped up this summer with Mexico's cooperation, has been credited by American officials with a significant reduction of the number of migrant apprehensions at the southern border, a key goal of President Trump. Asylum claims have spiked since 2010, and there is currently a backlog of more than 800,000 cases pending in immigration court. Most asylum claims often fail to meet the legal standard after they are reviewed by asylum judges, and only about 20 percent of applicants are approved. The new tents were built near international bridges in the two Texas towns on the property of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection. They have a walkway from each bridge that eventually leads to courtrooms with video-conferencing equipment. Stuff animals, story books and small chairs fill the Juvenile waiting area at the Migrant Protection Protocols Immigration Hearing Facilities in Laredo, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2019. (Ricardo Santos/The Laredo Morning Times via AP) SUPREME COURT ALLOWS TRUMP ASYLUM RESTRICTIONS TO TAKE EFFECT, ENDING 9TH CIRCUIT INJUNCTIONS While judges hold the hearings remotely, U.S. officials said if attorneys have formally agreed to represent migrants, they will be allowed to attend hearings in person. However, outside attorneys who routinely observe immigration proceedings will not be allowed at the hearings. Media outlets will not be allowed into the tents without permission either. Under U.S. Department of Justice rules, immigration court hearings are generally open to the public, though immigration judges can some hearings for privacy reasons or to protect "the public interest." One official said the government might allow potential observers to submit applications "as we move forward." A view shows U.S. Customs a
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