Senator Jim Justice Urges Trump Administration to Rethink Immigration Tactics
Senator Jim Justice called on the Trump administration to evaluate aggressive immigration enforcement after reports showed many detainees had no criminal records.
Republican Senator Jim Justice of West Virginia urged the Donald Trump administration to rethink its aggressive immigration enforcement agenda. Justice recommended that the administration step back to evaluate its tactics, suggesting that federal agents may have been carried away by removing long-term residents who lack criminal records.
These comments follow an investigation by the ACLU of West Virginia into Operation Country Roads, a January enforcement action. The investigation revealed that approximately three-quarters of the individuals arrested during the operation had no prior criminal history. Justice stated that the government may need to admit it is doing something wrong and adjust its approach.
Criticism of the enforcement efforts has extended beyond civil rights groups. The Kansas Livestock Association, Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association, and Texas Cattle Feeders Association condemned the activities of United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, claiming the tactics created a massive chilling effect on the legal, skilled workforce necessary for beef production. Other Republicans, including Congresswoman Maria Elvira Salazar, have also criticized the administration's efforts as having gone too far.
