"You don't have rights here" : US border screening and returns of Central Americans to risk of serious harm / [researched and written by Clara Long; edited and contributed by Alison Parker].

[New York] : Human Rights Watch, [2014]

©2014

JV6483 .L66 2014

9781623132002
1623132002

44 pages : color illustrations ; 26 cm

(OCoLC)894347072

In recent years, the United States has apprehended growing numbers of Central Americans crossing the US-Mexico border without authorization. These migrants have left their countries for many reasons, including fleeing rising violence by gangs involved in the drug trade. US Customs and Border Protection deports the overwhelming majority of migrants it apprehends from Central America in accelerated processes known as "expedited removal" or "reinstatement of removal." These processes include rapid-fire screening for a migrant's fear of persecution or torture upon return to their home country. "You Don't Have Rights Here" details how summary screening at the US border is failing to identify people fleeing serious risks to their lives and safety. It is based primarily on the accounts of migrants sent back to Honduras or in detention in US migrant detention facilities. An analysis of US government deportation data shows that the Border Patrol flags only a tiny minority of Central Americans for a more extended interview to determine if they have a "credible" fear of returning home. Migrants said that Border Patrol officers seemed singularly focused on deporting them and their families despite their fear of return. Some said that after their deportation they went into hiding, fearful for their lives. Human Rights Watch calls on the US government to ensure that immigration authorities give the cases of Central American migrants sufficient scrutiny before returning them to risk of serious harm. It also urges US authorities to stop detaining migrant children, and to improve migrants' access to lawyers. -- back cover.

"October 2014"
Human Rights Watch report.
"This report was researched and written by Clara Long, US Program researcher on immigration and border policy at Human Rights Watch. ... Alison Parker, US program director, edited and contributed to research and writing of the report." -- page 44.

Includes bibliographical references.

Also available online.

Onsite Print Resources
Shared Records
All Resources

US border screening and returns of Central Americans to risk of serious harm
United States border screening and returns of Central Americans to risk of serious harm