This post from the AP is pretty interesting. As a result of Project Steamline, no tolerance zones were set up along the border in Texas, Arizona and California. In these zones, immigrants who are caught have the chance of being tried in federal court.
However, because of the high volume of immigrants caught coming through these zones, many officials have turned to efficiency, reading the rights of these immigrants in groups rather than individually. And in some cases, the court tries the immigrants in groups, instead of individually.
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco ruled that a federal court in Tucson, Ariz.,where mass hearings have been held for defendants arrested by U.S. Border Patrol agents, violates federal law which requires that each defendant be read their rights and be given an explanation of what a guilty plea means.
The problem with mass court hearings is that in the case of immigrants, many have no idea what they’re pleading guilty to or how to defend themselves.
-Katy Johnson
