At a hearing in an immigration court in Brownsville, Texas, a judge reads the name of each detainee aloud as defendants reply “guilty.” At a crowded session last May, a total of 35 individuals pleaded guilty to illegal entry or re-entry into the country. Zero tolerance policies have led to these hasty deportation trials in federal courts along the border, and the number of criminal prosecutions for the offense of illegal entry is increasing rapidly. These charges are now the most common reason for sentencing to federal prison. Fernando García, executive director of the Border Network for Human Rights in El Paso, says that immigrants are being criminalized like never before. This report is part of a special series on the criminal justice system in collaboration with Debbie Nathan and The Justice Collaborative.
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