Trump Management Argues It Can indefinitely Detain Dreamers, Raising Alarm Over Due Process
SAN ANTONIO, TX – The Trump administration is asserting its authority to indefinitely detain individuals protected by the deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, a legal position that has sparked outrage from immigration advocates and raised serious concerns about the erosion of due process rights. The case centers on Catalina Xóchitl Santiago, a DACA recipient and community activist currently held in Texas, whose detention is being challenged by civil rights groups.
The government’s argument,revealed in court filings,contends that DACA recipients,despite their protected status,can be held without bond while facing deportation proceedings,potentially for years. This stance marks a notable departure from previous interpretations of immigration law and could expose hundreds of thousands of Dreamers to prolonged, indefinite detention. A ruling on Santiago’s release is anticipated imminently, and the outcome will set a crucial precedent for the future of DACA recipients navigating the immigration system.
rep. Delia Ramirez, D-Ill., warned that the administration’s actions represent a dangerous escalation in tactics to silence dissent. ”As authoritarians, Trump, [Kristi] Noem, [Stephen] Miller, and the rest of the Administration are abusing their power to silence dissent,” Ramirez stated in a message to The Intercept. “Despite the legal protections for DACA recipients and green card holders,we are witnessing the disappearance of community activists,like Catalina Xóchitl Santiago,who are challenging the rise of fascism in our nation.”
Santiago, a vocal advocate for immigrant rights, was detained in late September while organizing against potential deportations. Her case has drawn national attention,with advocates arguing her detention is politically motivated and intended to intimidate other activists. The government maintains her detention is based on a prior conviction, but critics point to the timing and the administration’s broader efforts to dismantle protections for undocumented individuals.
The DACA program, established in 2012, shields eligible individuals who entered the country as children from deportation and provides them with work permits. while the program has faced legal challenges,including attempts by the Trump administration to end it,it remains in effect,protecting approximately 580,000 individuals.
The Intercept has reported that the administration’s legal argument hinges on a narrow interpretation of immigration law, asserting that DACA status does not preclude the possibility of detention during deportation proceedings.This interpretation, if upheld by the courts, could dramatically alter the landscape for DACA recipients, subjecting them to the same indefinite detention practices applied to other individuals facing deportation.
Advocates fear this move signals a broader strategy to target and silence immigrant activists and organizers. “We have to stand up for Dreamers and immigrants and protect our civil and constitutional rights,” Ramirez added. The outcome of Santiago’s case will likely determine the extent to which the Trump administration can pursue this strategy.