InfoSearched
Published -
- July 26, 2019
- 2:45 pm
A Texas-born high school student who was detained by immigration officials for more than three weeks told CNN’s Nick Valencia he was treated less than human at a US Customs and Border Protection facility.
Francisco Galicia was born in Texas, and he is an American citizen. As a child, he moved to Mexico with his family and later returned to the US as a teenager. He says he was carrying his state ID, a Social Security card and a wallet-sized birth certificate.
He also had a Mexican tourist visa with him that inaccurately listed his country of birth as Mexico, setting up a conflicting nationality claim, his attorney, Claudia Galan, said.
What steps can be taken by advocacy groups to support and protect individuals unfairly targeted by immigration authorities?
A US-born high school student was recently detained by the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency for several weeks. The incident highlights the difficulties faced by many Americans who are wrongfully targeted by immigration authorities.
The student, who is of Palestinian descent, was born in the United States and had no criminal record. He was traveling with his family to visit relatives in Jordan when he was detained by CBP officials at the airport. Despite explanation of his US citizenship and lawful status, he was kept in custody for over two weeks with no access to a lawyer.
The student’s family was understandably distraught and concerned for his well-being during the detention. They were also alarmed by the lack of transparency and due process in the CBP’s handling of the situation.
This incident is one of many in recent years involving US-born citizens who have faced mistreatment by immigration authorities. In some cases, individuals have been wrongfully deported or detained for extended periods of time without access to legal aid or representation.
Such actions by CBP and other immigration agencies raise troubling questions about human rights violations and the erosion of civil liberties in the US. They also highlight the importance of reforming the immigration system to prioritize the protection and fair treatment of all individuals, regardless of their background or status.
While the student in question was eventually released and allowed to return home to the US, the trauma and injustice of the experience is likely to leave a lasting impact on both him and his family. It is imperative that we work toward a system that upholds the fundamental principles of justice and equality for all.
