AILA’s Take on Operation Streamline

For years, Operation Streamline (Streamline), a federal program that fast tracks federal criminal prosecutions for immigration status offenses, has drawn criticism for engaging in speedy mass prosecutions that deprive individuals of due process. New findings published in May 2015 by the Inspector General (OIG) for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) conclude that Streamline may not be an effective enforcement tool despite the enormous law enforcement resources dedicated to the program. The OIG also found that Customs and Border Protection (CBP) uses Streamline to refer people, who are known to have a fear of persecution and are seeking asylum, to the Department of Justice (DOJ) for illegal entry and reentry prosecution-a practice that is in gross violation of asylum law. With these new findings, DHS and DOJ should halt the use of Streamline.

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Cite as AILA Doc. No. 15061930.

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