As your constituent, I am calling on you to pass legislation making all asylum seekers eligible for a custody redetermination hearing with an Immigration Judge to determine if they can pursue their case in freedom from outside detention.

Currently, asylum seekers who come to our border and present themselves at a Port of Entry are not eligible for a bond hearing even if they are not a flight risk or danger to the community. There is therefore no judicial review of ICE discretionary custody decisions and no checks-and-balances on the power of the Executive. This goes against our country's fundamental notions of justice and democracy.

It is important to provide asylum seekers with access to our court system because no asylum seeker should be deprived of their liberty without due process of law.