Grace Meng Urges Jeff Sessions to Continue Legal Orientation Program for Detained Foreign National

Congresswoman Grace Meng (D-NY), a member of the House Appropriations Committee, sent a letter to AG Jeff Sessions urging him to continue the Legal Orientation Program, a DOJ initiative that offers legal assistance to detained foreign nationals facing deportation. In her correspondence, the Congresswoman also demanded answers should the program be suspended, asking Sessions for all documents and communications ahead of his planned testimony before Meng and other members of the Appropriations Committee on April 26th. “I am deeply troubled to see reports that the Department of Justice is planning to suspend this important program that has been critical to ensuring that detainees know their rights, and understand the immigration court process,” said Meng. “This decision is part of a larger pattern of attacks by this Administration on immigrant communities. According to the Justice Department, the Legal Orientation Program has been a success. Its own website highlights that the program has helped detained individuals, and that it has had positive effects on the immigration court process. Ending this critical program would be extremely misguided. I urge Attorney General Sessions to continue it.” See the full letter here.