The Congressional Black Caucus demanded that Immigration and Customs Enforcement stop deporting illegal immigrants, claiming the agency is deporting “planes full of Black people.”
The lawmakers argued ICE is illegally deporting illegal immigrants in spite of President Joe Biden’s executive order temporarily suspending deportations.
ICE reportedly deported 72 Haitians back to their country last week.
However, Biden’s deportation moratorium was put on hold by a federal judge earlier this month.
That means ICE is allowed to continue deporting illegal immigrants until the Biden administration can provide the court with “any concrete, reasonable justification for a 100-day pause on deportations.”
In a letter, the Congressional Black Caucus urged Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to “stop all mass deportations and return those wrongfully deported.”
I, along with 11 members of the CBC, just sent a letter to @AliMayorkas demanding DHS stop all mass deportations & return those wrongfully deported like Paul Pierrilus.
We can’t sit by while ICE blatantly ignores @POTUS’ order & continues to deport planes full of Black people. pic.twitter.com/CsBXVbYkYf
— Rep. Mondaire Jones (@RepMondaire) February 8, 2021
More than 72 Democrats, including “Squad” members Reps. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., and Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., signed the letter, saying they represent “large black immigrant communities” that are being targeted by ICE.
.@ICEgov is unlawfully deporting Black immigrants and asylum-seekers.
For years, this rogue agency has acted violently with impunity. Enough is enough. We want answers. https://t.co/f5KowasejQ
— Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (@RepPressley) February 9, 2021
Texas took the Biden administration to court last month after Biden signed an executive order temporarily suspending deportations.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton argued the moratorium violated federal law as well as an agreement Texas signed with the Department of Homeland Security late in the Trump administration.
