S. 4011: Immigration Enforcement Moratorium Act
Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) introduced the “Immigration Enforcement Moratorium Act,” citing AILA’s prior calls on the DOJ to cease in-person removal proceedings during the public health emergency and introducing measures to promote fair procedures in immigration courts. AILA endorses this bill. Co-sponsoring the legislation are Senators Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Kamala Harris (D-CA).
The bill outlines procedures the Attorney General must take during the public health emergency including the suspension of in-person hearings, the establishment of procedures to conduct remote custody determination hearings for detained individuals, the issuance of a blanket extraordinary circumstances exception for one-year asylum filing deadlines, and the tolling of any deadlines imposed by statute, regulation, local rule, standing order, or policy guidance requiring the appearance or other action by the respondent.