On Monday, a new immigration court opened in Concord’s Monument Corridor, a predominantly Spanish-speaking neighborhood in Contra Costa County. Fearful that the new court signals faster deportations without due process, immigrant rights groups rallied on the steps on opening day.
The Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) opened the new court, where ten new courtrooms will hear immigration cases from the following counties: Contra Costa, Solano, Madera, Fresno, Inyo, Tulare, Kings, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, and Mariposa, according to advocates for immigrants.
Kimberly Galindo of the Contra Costa Immigrant Rights Alliance said the government didn’t let community members or community organizations know that the new court was even going to be opening.
Advocates for immigrants reached out to their congressional representative with their concerns, Mark DeSaulnier.
“I am disappointed that this court has been moving forward with limited community and stakeholder engagement,” DeSaulnier replied in an email. “I appreciate the need for Executive Office for Immigration Review, EOIR, to conduct its business, and hope that the opening of the court will turn over a new leaf of community coordination.”
The announcement of the new court hasn’t given people enough time to learn important information, such as that their court date has moved up, Galindo said. This could speed up their immigration review process and doesn’t allow them enough time to seek attorney or any local services, she said.
“It’s an area where immigrants feel at home, welcomed and safe,” said Galindo, who questioned why such a court would open in that neighborhood. “(It) just kind of asks whether they’re trying to change that feeling, that immigrants are welcomed here.”
“The decision to establish this court, seemingly in secrecy and without community input or knowledge, has ignited apprehension among advocates for immigrant rights,” reads a statement released by the California Collaborative for Immigrant Justice on Monday. “EOIR has issued little to no notice of the cases transferred from the San Francisco jurisdiction to Contra Costa, raising significant due process concerns and sparking confusion among community members.”
One of the groups represented at the rally was Stand Together Contra Costa, a non-profit organization that receives public funds to provide free legal services for immigrants within the county. The only requirement for their assistance is that immigration clients be residents of Contra Costa County.
Galindo said this raises concerns about people in neighboring counties, like Yolo, Alameda and Sonoma counties, where they may not have the same support programs.
The justice department is hiring 21 immigration judges for the Concord court.
The Concord Immigration Court falls under the jurisdiction of the Office of the Chief Immigration Judge, which is a component of the Executive Office for Immigration Review under the Department of Justice.
I thought one of the complaints was that the immigration courts are to slow? Whats wrong with Due Process moving faster?
Where is it? or going to be?
You are worried about being deported but you entered the USA illegally.
You are worried about no legal representation, but you entered the USA without legal represenation. So you expect to have legal representation to be kicked out, but not to break in.
If these courts will be used to actually deport folks that are here illegally, lets get the party started.
As for Marky being concerned … is he worried that he is going to lose his maid or gardner?
Nail on the head, try this in any other country.
He is worked about losing votes!
If you aren’t in our country legally then it’s time for you to leave.You are not supporting yourself and paying for your benefits.Follow the law and you are welcome back.
To cover that much area, 10 Court rooms and 21 Judges is distressingly insufficient.
They needed to start somewhere. Having a court in this area will give the locals no reason for missing court. I support LEAGAL immigration…
I would like to see all illegal immigrants returned to their native countries.
There is a legal way to enter the United States and it must be used without exception.
ABE, that will never happen. You see your immigration/government system is broken in so many ways. To enter legal, and become resident of this GREAT nation, it takes anywhere from 6 months to 12 years. Depends If you marry a citizen of this country, or your mother or brother petition for you, then another 3 to 5 years to become a citizen that is only if you have a clean record. This is a very slow process and very expensive. Easier to jump the border illegal, then you get a job here where you get paid cash, but you want to do taxes because at some point some law might come that if you enter illegal from such year you can petition for residency, so your only way to prove it is by filling taxes, oh wait you have no social security card, no worries IRS gives you an ITIN# to file your taxes when you have no social security number, no questions asks. Now you have your taxes proof, of course low income, no worries you can get medical and probably calfresh. Now you might need a car, need a license right? Just go to dmv, any illegal is able to get a license now. Why if the government does not want you here illegal, then why give them all of the benefits as a legal person? I don’t get it. Just saying!
They have NO RIGHTS if they are here illegally!
I don’t think I could go to ANY OTHER country and make demands.
Markie is as bad “BRAIN DEAD” biden.
My post will probably be deleted as it might hurt somebodies feelings.
See, thats the problem with this Nation. They give all the Rights, just like you, except vote, read it on my post towards the top.
All they are doing is showing they they wont assimilate and dont want to fit in.
Isnt what they are doing considered racist?
also if they are so good for our country why weren’t they good for theirs??????
must be that new math
Here’s your math…. $1 USD = 17.20 Pesos
Get the cheapest apartment you can find & let 20 of your countrymen live there with you for a price.
Everyone chips in for the shopping trips to Costco…. buy in bulk.
Earn as much as you can & send as much as you can back to your family in Mexico.
I know people who have done that and are now retired and living in mansions down there.
I don’t blame them but we can’t let this continue!
Mexico needs USD!
We are propping up their economy with all the USD their countrymen send there from the USA!
Oh…. maybe I should explain to all the Democrats, Liberals & Lefties…. “USD” stands for “United States Dollars” it is the preferred currency south of the border.
Mexico needs USD? Lol..
Open your eyes, immigrants invest in their countries..Mexico is just one of them.
My eyes are wide open Immigrant, but there are 195 countries in the world today and I believe the known immigrants to this country are coming from 180 of them so far.
Do I need to acknowledge them all separately for you or can I just refer to the ones I’ve known personally?
That is just simplistic view. As someone that immigrated here legally I’m all for following the right avenues to get into this country. Although when I came here in the sixties I was a much shorter process than it is now.
However, I’m sure there are honest hardworking people who are immigrating now, or want to immigrate, that might want to come here due to horrible circumstantces in their country, drug cartels, war, violent crime, they might not have a chance in their own country. I’m not saying letting everyone in because of that, all I’m saying I’m sure there are many who want to come here can be productive members of society.
So an immigrant’s first act is to break the law when entering a country to become productive members of society?
Great start.
The rule should be if you broke any laws before coming here including that one you should be sent back and denied any opportunity for paperwork for 5 years
I was replying to Angry American, who posted that if someone is not good for their country they would not be good for the US. I merely pointed out than someone might have the potential to be a productive member in their country, but circumstances might not allow it. They might be very capable of being productive in another country under different cirumstances, does not have to be the US. I didn’t voice my opinion on illegal immigration, that is a different issue.
HANNE, this Nation has painted this great picture and has influenced immigrants in so many ways. That they actually believed coming here is their only way out. When they get here, they are the ones living in the most dangerous communities because these are the only places they can afford and without even knowing probably being exposed to Cartel, drugs and violent crimes. This is what we live everyday in this GREAT Nation.
Don’t forget they are often preyed upon by their own communities due to a language barrier. Tells you something about the people coming here.
You can go back home. Nobody is forcing you to stay. There’s lots of nice places to live in both mexico and the US. The lower earners usually have to live in less nice locations. Maybe you should work harder and move your family somewhere nice. You definitely don’t think it’s a GREAT nation so what gives?
Hanne, when seeking asylum from dangerous conditions, one must seek it in the first country available. When ‘Remain in Mexico’ was in place, the Mexican government took measures to protect their own southern border.
Every one is missing my point. As I wrote I came here legally, I’m not for open borders. I was not voicing my opinion on legal immigration as such, too hot a potato. I repeat all I did was answering the post that said “if someone is not good for their own country, how can they be good for any country (does not have to be the US). It is not such a hard concept, however nobody is adressing that. All the replies to my post do not address that concept at all. Wonder why? Reading comprehension, perhaps!
Seems this should only cause distress to Illegal aliens.
What do they mean they weren’t told about the new building? I knew about this 2 years ago. It’s in the Gateway building across from the Park ‘N Shop, between Willow Pass and Clayton Rd. If these folks would have been plugged into local news they would have learned about it. The information has been there.
Assimilate? Are you nuts!
Why all of the concerns? The United States of America is a sovereign nation, which means we have laws here. If everyone is obeying our laws they have absolutely nothing to worry about. The majority of Americans support and even encourage legal immigration, so where is the problem? Nobody should be advocating for illegal immigration, or trying to help harbor people that are here illegally. Encouraging others to initially break our laws does nothing to promote good law abiding members of a civilized society.
AMERICA FIRST!
There is no other country in the world where you can just sneak in and then be allowed to stay and get benefits! Only Joe Biden and the Democrats America. If you even try this going the other way into Mexico they will arrest you and put you in jail. And there they also give you a beating. So I don’t want to hear about America being unjust or cruel. We are stupid. And if the voters out there choose the same in the future they’re stupid they’re ruining the country with voting in these idiots.
The ‘Progressive’ movement is really regressing America! Old diseases that were solved are now coming back. Old living problems that were solved are now coming back! But the Dems don’t care. They just assume it’s going to be more democratic voters for them. If we were getting a surge of conservative people from Poland and Hungary, the liberals would want the borders closed away!
wish this wasn’t true
Wasn’t there a border security bill put before the GOP controlled house a few weeks ago that they voted down?
“The ‘Progressive’ movement is really regressing America! Old diseases that were solved are now coming back.” which party is more anti-vaccine at this point?
We don’t need a bill full of easter egg poison pills just to guard our borders. That’s our right as a sovereign country. As for your snark about vaccines, nobody believes your narrative. Kamala, gavin and joe stirred up all kinds of vaccine hesitancy when they said they wouldn’t be taking the “Trump vaccine”. And just so it’s perfectly clear, it wasn’t available until a day after biden assumed the presidency. Prior to COVID HOAX it was oatmeal eating flower child liberal progressive democrats who actively opposed vaccines. Not only that, exactly who is bringing obsolete diseases into my country? ….thought so
There is more money in that bill for the Ukrainian border than for our own. Educate yourself.
Unless those with appointments are well aware their asylum claims are fraudulent, they would welcome a quicker court date in their own neighborhood.
I don’t know what the new courts will do but it sounds like a good step forward. Our “community” doesn’t want to be a dumping station for half of Mexico. Enough is enough. And now the issue just a political football due to all the shenanigans in Congress. Can we just agree we need to do something locally and nationally on immigration? P.S. I’m really sick of the pro-Palestine nonsense in this state. I’ve been to Iraq twice. We don’t want their way of thinking in this country. It’s toxic. Alright, that’s it. I’m outta here. Have a great day good residents.
Did they give notice before the entered illegally. Just like NY and Chicago complaining no notice from Texas on the busing they don’t get one when they come in . Why should asylum seekers be able to cross multiple countries to claim asylum, once there out of there country they should stay.
‘Immigrants are America’s greatest asset’ … not my words but Rudy Giuliani in ‘97.
If you think your livelihood is under threat by someone who doesn’t speak English, gets less than minimum wage and yet still manages to support their family … then you should probably take a look at yourself and take steps to fix it … no one is guaranteed a job for life, nor should they be.
If you believe in capitalism, then the free movement of labor is part of it, get over yourselves, stop moaning and strive to be the best you can be for this great nation … you can start by getting off your ass (and not complaining about those who do).
Regular Joe. There is a difference between legal and illegal immigration. If you are here illegally, you are breaking our immigration laws. We do not know your health, history, skills, legal records etc. Some of my relatives came here more than 100 yrs ago and were checked for diseases, rashes, etc., and if anything wrong, they were sent back. They also needed a sponsor to guarantee they would not be a burden on society, but would get a job and be productive. There was no government help; those immigrants worked and made our country productive. I also had relatives who came here in the 1600’s, before there was any laws, and those early people had to make laws. We now have laws for everyone safety. A country without borders and laws cannot exist as a country with the large population we now have. Both are now broken, our borders and our laws. It is so sad what is happening to this great nation.
Regular Joe
So you are good with someone breaking into your home, using your household resources of money, utilities, food, leaving the place a pig style, and you get nothing in return but you are expected to pay for all of that mess.
See, I am not okay with that. I will defend my home from illegal invaders. You will not be allowed to just take resources out of my home and face no repercussions.
This is not about an open job market, cause is it was they would pay into taxes, social security etc … but illegals do not. They are not contributing the same way legal ‘regular Joe’s’ are in this country. If you cannot see that difference, then you are part of the problem.
Now talk about the tax issue and the welfare, medical, housing and food we are forced to provide to supplement their existence. While our schools crumble and society breaks down. Then tell me about the laws that aren’t followed that allows them to get good union jobs that should be for Americans. Finally, tell me how you feel about slave labor. Because that’s what it is. Cheap slave labor that gets abused and exploited. Bonus is you tell us about the drugs and crime that we all pay for with our quality of life.
.
There is free movement of labor, in America for Americans.
Regular Joe, you expose your ACTUAL feelings on this matter by refusing to acknowledge the difference between legal and illegal immigration.
My hope is that illegals learn that finally the US has a system in place that doesn’t attract
more illegal crossings. Party’s over.
Contra Costa Immigrant Rights Alliance
California Collaborative for Immigrant Justice
Stand Together Contra Costa
The last one “receives public funds to provide free legal services for immigrants within the county”. I bet the other two also exist on taxpayers’ dime.
Don’t remember ever being asked if I want to subsidize an illegal immigrant or two by paying their legal fees. So – does anyone have any idea how these “immigration advocates” can be defunded? I mean, CA is no longer flush with freshly printed federal $$$. And I even heard we may be running a budget deficit to the tune of a few tens of billions?
Yep, thanks tax payers, we’re using your money to give legal services to those that never paid taxes. When did I vote for that?
America First Always!!!
But without illegal immigration, how will the Dems win any elections ???
‘Due process’ has always been more a subjective judgement than an objective one. We need a Constitutional Amendment that lays out specifically how we intend as a nation to deal with ALL our borders that both keeps us secure and doesn’t betray our values as a nation of immigrants.
Except that in the context of immigration, ‘due process’ has been legally and objectively defined.
Hahaha…unless the border is really secured, undocumented immigrants will come back after deportation. My high school friend has been deported at least 5 times, but he has crossed back through the San ysidro border crossing.
I can’t for visiting San Diego again so I can go volunteer with the border angels by placing water stations where the immigrants might need.
Only in America, can you illegally cross the border and DEMAND equal rights, housing, medical, education and citizenship.
This administration makes me sick to my stomach. There is a war coming, and if you think otherwise, God bless you and your rose colored glasses.
What we are witnessing is a headlong rush for FREE STUFF aka welfare.
Cost of give aways to illegals should be paid for by a 10% transfer tax of remunerations sent out of the USA.
We can only hope it speeds up the deportation of people coming to the United States illegally. If you go through the correct process then you are good to go. If you don’t, stay where you live until you do the correct process to come into the United States.
Anyone helping illegal aliens instead of citizens would have been investigated as a Communist.
There is no way for any country to sustain open borders and a welfare state.
My question is are they gonna have busses to drive them back over the boarder? After their hearings that is.
Why is Mexico letting all these people into their country in the first place?
This should be their problem not ours.
We should close our border completely right now!