| Houston, Texas –Harris County joined El Paso County and the City of Austin in filing an amicus brief urging the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit to rehear a recent panel decision that would dramatically expand mandatory immigration detention. The brief warns that the added and unnecessary detention would harm local economies, erode trust in law enforcement, and undermine public health across communities throughout the region. A three-judge panel recently ruled (over a forceful and persuasive dissent) that certain noncitizens without criminal records must be held indefinitely without bond—even after living in the United States for decades. The decision reverses more than 30 years of precedent allowing discretion with respect to whether to detain people who entered the country without inspection at a port of entry or border crossing. If allowed to stand, the ruling would trigger the largest expansion of mandatory immigration detention in U.S. history. “Harris County is well known for our diverse population, and we know the value of strong communities where everyone contributes,” said Harris County Attorney Jonathan Fombonne. “Expanding mandatory immigration detention on this scale would weaken our local economy, make it harder for residents to work with law enforcement, and discourage people from seeking necessary medical care. Courts should carefully consider the real-world consequences this decision would have on counties like ours.” Specifically, the brief highlights that expanded mandatory detention would cause: Damage to local economies: Undocumented workers make up a large share of the construction, agricultural, manufacturing, and restaurant industries across communities in the Fifth Circuit. Without these workforces, labor shortages will get worse, costs will go up, and economic growth will slow. Harm to the broader community: Increased detention could force some employers to shut down entirely, triggering more than 2.5 million job losses for American workers. It will also drain more than $50 billion in undocumented immigrant spending that Fifth Circuit local governments rely on to fund critical local services and social safety net programs. Erosion of trust in local law enforcement: Mandatory detention deters immigrant residents from reporting crimes and prevents victims from coming forward, deteriorating relationships with local police and leaving communities less secure. Undermined public health and safety: Increased detention causes immigrants to avoid health care services out of fear, raising the risk for communicable diseases and increasing public health costs. The jurisdictions are urging the full Fifth Circuit to rehear the case and consider the significant economic, public safety, and public health consequences that expanded mandatory detention would impose on communities across the region. |