The record surge of Central American families at the U.S. southwest border has begun to ease after tougher enforcement efforts in Mexico but conditions in migrant detention facilities remain dire, according to Mexican and U.S. officials. Senator Cory Booker would “virtually eliminate immigration detention” if he wins the White House, his campaign said on Tuesday. Trump meanwhile looked to stir up support for his policies, promising immigration raids after the July 4 U.S. holiday to arrest migrants with deportation orders. He faced a setback on Tuesday when a federal judge in Seattle blocked an administration move to keep thousands of asylum seekers in custody while they pursued their cases. The American Civil Liberties Union, and other immigrant rights groups, sued the government in April after Attorney General William Barr concluded that asylum seekers who entered the country illegally were not eligible for bond.

Source: National Post July 03, 2019 09:56 UTC