Trump Administration Seeks to Detain Dreamers Indefinitely, Raising Alarms Among Immigration Experts

Trump Administration Argues It Can Hold Dreamers Indefinitely EL PASO, Texas - The Trump administration is arguing that it can hold a Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipient indefinitely in immigration detention, sparking concerns among immigration experts and advocates. Catalina "Xochitl" Santiago, 28, a DACA recipient and immigration activist, has spent over 50 days in immigration detention at the El Paso Processing Center. According to her attorneys, she was detained on August 3 by U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents while attempting to catch a flight to Austin. "We're seeing a pattern of behavior from the Trump administration that suggests they're trying to run out the clock until Xochitl's DACA status expires," said her attorney, who wished to remain anonymous due to concerns about retaliation. "This is not just about Xochitl; it's about the thousands of other Dreamers who are at risk of being deported." Immigration experts warn that this tactic could be used as a backdoor to expel those in the DACA program, which offers temporary protection from deportation to some formerly undocumented immigrants who came to the United States as children. "This is a clear attempt by the administration to undermine the DACA program and push Dreamers out of the country," said Maria Rodriguez, executive director of the National Immigration Law Center. "It's unacceptable that the Trump administration is using detention as a way to circumvent the law and deport individuals who have been living in the United States for years." The Trump administration has come under fire from human rights groups and advocacy organizations for its treatment of migrants and asylum seekers. "The use of indefinite detention is a clear violation of international human rights standards," said Kate Jaramillo, senior policy analyst at the American Civil Liberties Union. "It's essential that Congress takes action to protect Dreamers and other vulnerable populations from this administration's draconian policies." Santiago's brother, Jose, expressed concern about his sister's well-being in detention. "She's holding on, but it's taking a toll on her physically and emotionally," he said. "We're worried about what will happen to her if she's deported back to Mexico." The current status of Santiago's case is unclear, with no indication from the administration when or if she will be released. The Trump administration has not commented publicly on the matter. Background: DACA was introduced in 2012 by President Barack Obama as a way to provide temporary protection from deportation to certain undocumented immigrants who came to the United States as children. Since its inception, over 700,000 individuals have been granted DACA status. The program has been subject to various court challenges and changes under the Trump administration, which announced plans to end it in 2017 but was blocked by a federal judge. Global Context: Indefinite detention of migrants and asylum seekers is a growing concern globally. In recent years, several countries have faced criticism for their treatment of migrants, including Australia, where a policy of offshore processing has been widely condemned as inhumane. The Trump administration's approach to immigration has drawn comparisons with other countries' policies, sparking concerns about the erosion of human rights and international law. Next Developments: Advocates are calling on Congress to pass legislation protecting Dreamers from deportation. The House of Representatives is expected to vote on a bill that would provide permanent protection for DACA recipients in the coming weeks. In the meantime, Santiago's case remains a high-profile example of the Trump administration's aggressive approach to immigration enforcement and its impact on vulnerable populations. *Reporting by Theintercept.*