Mr. President, As you increase immigration enforcement, will you make public information about detentions and deportations? #100Days100Qs
A draft of Donald Trump's executive order to stop and change how immigrants and refugees are treated in the visa-issuing process has a directive near the end that the Department of Homeland Security provide regular data on foreign-born people in the US who are convicted of terrorism-related crimes or gender-based violence. The Los Angeles Times and other outlets have released this draft, and it reads:
Sec. 11. Transparency and Data Collection. To be more transparent with the American people, and in order to more effectively implement policies and practices that serve the national interest, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall, consistent with applicable law, collect and make publicly available within 180 days, and every 180 days thereafter:
(a) information regarding the number of foreign-born individuals in the United States who have been charged with terrorism-related offenses; convicted of terrorism-related offenses; or removed from the United States based on terrorism-related activity, affiliation, or material support to a terrorism-related organization, or any other national security reasons;
(b) information regarding the number of foreign-born individuals in the United States who have been radicalized after entry into the United States and engaged in terrorism-related acts, or who have provided material support to terrorism-related organizations in countries that pose a threat to the United States; and
(c) information regarding the number and types of acts of gender-based violence against women or honor killings by foreign-born individuals in the United States.
One of the executive orders Trump signed yesterday has required the attorney general collect data on the immigration status of those in federal or state prisons. No question, government transparency should generally be applauded. But when data is limited, the effect is indeed the opposite of transparency. This data appears to exclude transparency on immigration detention.
Research institutes, nonprofit organizations and news organizations have spent years on costly lawsuits in attempts to access information about the US government's actions regarding immigration detention and deportation. They have done so during the Obama administration, and will likely continue to do so in the Trump administration.
So we're asking if the Trump administration will make changes to the Obama administration's approach to freedom of information when it comes to immigration enforcement. The Boston Globe has asked for greater access to information about immigration enforcement, what Trump called in remarks at the Department of Homeland Security on Wednesday a "law enforcement agency."
We're also asking, will the Trump administration will provide regular information about foreign-born individuals detained and deported, whether they are convicted of crimes or not? Lastly, will the administration make public information about who, how and why people are detained and deportated?
Click here to tweet him that question, and share this article so that others can too.
Over President Donald Trump's roughly first 100 days, we'll be asking him questions that our audience wants answers to. Join the project by tweeting this question to @realDonaldTrump with the hashtag #100Days100Qs. See more of our questions at pri.org/100questions.
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