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Rep. Sylvia Garcia (TX-29) Condemns Attorney General Barr’s Decision to Deny Bail for Asylum Seekers

April 17, 2019

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia rebuffed Attorney General Barr's recent policy reversal to withhold bail from asylum seekers. Barr, in a written decision, ordered immigration judges to stop granting immigrants who established "a credible fear of persecution or torture" in their home country from posting bail, condemning most asylum seekers to indefinite detainment while they await the completion proceedings.

"The Attorney General's recent decision to indefinitely detain families and individuals fleeing from violence and persecution is just another example of the cruel and immoral Trump policy agenda that unnecessarily strains our border security resources and puts families at risk," said Congresswoman Garcia. "This decision is clearly not solution-oriented and reflects a growingly-evident animosity towards immigrants, families, and the due process of law."

Congresswoman Garcia continued, "I again call on Attorney General Barr and the Trump Administration to put an end to their inhumane policies that have failed to provide answers for our immigration system and to start working with Congress to solve these issues without compromising our American values."

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Congresswoman Sylvia R. Garcia was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in November 2018, becoming the first Latina ever to represent Texas 29th Congressional district.