The decree makes it much easier for the government to deport migrants who enter the country illegally, falsify their immigration documents or commit minor crimes in Argentina. Previously, authorities could only expel or deny entry to a foreigner with a conviction of more than three years.
“Given the traumatizing experiences the families have been through, they are taking a step back to have full discussions about all their options, the safety and well-being of their children, and the best ways to proceed so the harms they have suffered can be fully addressed,” said Gracie Willis, one of the family’s lawyers.The lawsuit was brought by the
, National Immigration Project and several other allied groups, which said the deportations were a “shocking — although increasingly common — abuse of power.”Willis and the group of lawyers had argued that the families did not have a fair opportunity to decide whether they wanted the children to stay in the United States. Willis said the family of the 2-year-old girl and their lawyers jointly decided to dismiss the case to give the family “space and time to consider all the options that are available to them.”A federal judge in Louisiana had raised questions about the girl’s deportation, saying the
it had done so properly.The Honduran-born mother — who is pregnant — was arrested in April on an outstanding deportation order along with the girl and her 11-year-old Honduran-born sister during a check-in appointment at a U.S.
office in New Orleans, lawyers said. The family lived in Baton Rouge.
Lawyers for the girl’s father insisted he wanted the girl to remain with him in the U.S., while ICE said the mother had wanted the girl to be deported with her to Honduras.Start to finish: 1 hour 50 minutes (20 minutes active)
4 tablespoons grapeseed or other neutral oil, divided2 medium yellow onions, chopped
2 medium red bell peppers, stemmed, seeded and choppedKosher salt and ground black pepper