Immigration advocate: The Trump admin is 'using the justice system to trap people'

Immigration Detention Concerns - The report highlights allegations of abuse against migrants, including beatings, denial of legal access, rubber pellet shootings, and medical neglect, at both a detention center in El Salvador and within the US [1][2] - The New York Immigration Coalition obtained video footage showing unsanitary conditions in a New York holding cell, where migrants were seen lying on the bare floor in a crowded room [2][3] - The Trump administration is accused of using the immigration court system to trap, detain, and disappear individuals, particularly at 26 Federal Plaza, where people are allegedly held for days or weeks without adequate food or access to lawyers and family [5][6] Legal and Policy Implications - The report emphasizes that immigration violations are civil, not criminal offenses, despite messaging from DHS suggesting otherwise [10][11] - The Trump administration has enacted over 300 anti-immigrant executive orders, policies, and actions, and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) received $170 billion to further these efforts [13][14] - The administration is allegedly attempting to prevent people from receiving bond in immigration proceedings, leading to prolonged detention [14] Impact and Advocacy - Many detainees are individuals who have filed immigration relief applications and are following legal procedures [17] - The report cites the case of Dylan Lopez Contrarus, a New York City high school student detained after a court hearing, highlighting the human impact of these policies [18] - The proliferation of private detention facilities is expected to increase, benefiting companies like GEO Group and CoreCivic financially [16]