theguardian--2020-01-15--Calls mount for investigation of possible surveillance on Marie Yovanovitch

Former diplomats and congressional Democrats have responded with fury to revelations that associates of Donald Trump ’ s lawyer may have carried out surveillance on the US ambassador to Ukraine .
There was also considerable anger at the silence of the state department after the House intelligence committee released WhatsApp messages on Tuesday evening between the Florida businessman Lev Parnas and a Trump donor , Robert Hyde – who both have links to Rudy Giuliani , the president ’ s personal attorney and all-purpose fixer who has been a central figure in Trump ’ s impeachment .
In the texts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ congressional candidate in Connecticut , implies he was in touch with people in Ukraine who were monitoring the movements and communications of Marie Yovanovitch , the ambassador to Kyiv who Trump ordered removed from her post in April .
He also hinted he could arrange for Yovanovitch to be removed for the right price .
In March 2019 , Hyde wrote to Parnas , “ Wow .
Can ’ t believe Trumo [ sic ] hasn ’ t fired this bitch .
I ’ ll get right in [ sic ] that.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of messages about the ambassador ’ s whereabouts .
“ She under heavy protection outside Kiev , ” Hyde wrote to Parnas , adding two days later : “ They are moving her tomorrow.
” “ The guys over there asked me what I would like to do and what is in it for them , ” wrote Hyde , who has posted pictures of himself with Trump and Giuliani on social media .
“ She ’ s talked to three people .
Her phone is off .
Computer is off .
She @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Not in the embassy.
” “ They are willing to help if you/we would like a price , ” said Hyde .
“ Guess you can do anything in Ukraine with money … what I was told , ” Hyde wrote in another text , to which , Parnas responded : “ LOL.
” John Herbst , who was ambassador to Kyiv before Yovanovitch , cautioned that it was not clear whether the implied surveillance actually happened or was an idle boast .
“ If it ’ s real , it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Masha Yovanovitch is a real pro .
She was used to being surveilled by the FSB [ Russian intelligence ] , but if she ’ s being surveilled by a private American , that is truly dark side activity.
” On Wednesday , the chair of the Connecticut Republican Party called for Hyde to stand down as a candidate .
“ I have asked Rob Hyde to end his bid for Congress .
His campaign is a distraction for the Democrats to raise money and falsely label all Republicans with his antics .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ other Republican candidates or [ President Trump ] win , ” JR Romano said in a tweet .
As of midday on Wednesday , the state department had yet to issue a statement on the new revelations , and canceled two briefings to Congress , one of them on diplomatic security .
“ American diplomats should be supported , ” Herbst said .
“ Senior management at state should be concerned about morale … management responsibility calls for a response.
” “ A threat on a US ambassador ... would be treated with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a foreign person , ” tweeted Dana Shell Smith , former ambassador to Qatar .
“ But [ attorney general William ] Barr hasn ’ t opened an investigation and [ secretary of state ] Pompeo , radio silence.
” Eliot Engel , the Democratic chair of the House foreign affairs committee issued a statement saying : “ This unprecedented threat to our diplomats must be thoroughly investigated and , if warranted , prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
” Engel ’ s Senate counterpart , Bob Menendez put out a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump [ administration ] on what they knew and what they ’ ve done since to ensure her safety.
” “ This is not swagger , it ’ s thuggery , ” Menendez said .
In a Facebook post , Hyde claimed the WhatsApp messages were a joke .
“ I was never in Kiev , ” he wrote .
“ For them to take some texts my buddy ’ s and I wrote back to some dweeb we were playing with that we met a few times while we had a few @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had earlier sent to Hearst Connecticut Media showed him relaxing , smoking cigars and posing with Parnas and Giuliani apparently in a bar .
The state department was due to brief congressional staffers from both parties on diplomatic security on Wednesday , but abruptly canceled on Tuesday afternoon .
The cancellation , first reported by Politico , came before the Parnas-Hyde texts were published , according to a congressional aide .
The aide said the state department had given no reason for the decision and had not sought to reschedule the briefing .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ [ state department ] cancelled the embassy security briefing , just as our diplomats are facing serious dangers , ” Engel tweeted .
“ I want to see this briefing happen before the end of the week .
”

Former diplomats and congressional Democrats have responded with fury to revelations that associates of Donald Trump’s lawyer may have carried out surveillance on the US ambassador to Ukraine.
There was also considerable anger at the silence of the state department after the House intelligence committee released WhatsApp messages on Tuesday evening between the Florida businessman Lev Parnas and a Trump donor, Robert Hyde – who both have links to Rudy Giuliani, the president’s personal attorney and all-purpose fixer who has been a central figure in Trump’s impeachment.
In the texts, Hyde, who is a Republican congressional candidate in Connecticut, implies he was in touch with people in Ukraine who were monitoring the movements and communications of Marie Yovanovitch, the ambassador to Kyiv who Trump ordered removed from her post in April. He also hinted he could arrange for Yovanovitch to be removed for the right price.
In March 2019, Hyde wrote to Parnas, “Wow. Can’t believe Trumo [sic] hasn’t fired this bitch. I’ll get right in [sic] that.”
The two men then exchanged a string of messages about the ambassador’s whereabouts.
“She under heavy protection outside Kiev,” Hyde wrote to Parnas, adding two days later: “They are moving her tomorrow.”
“The guys over there asked me what I would like to do and what is in it for them,” wrote Hyde, who has posted pictures of himself with Trump and Giuliani on social media. “She’s talked to three people. Her phone is off. Computer is off. She’s next to the embassy. Not in the embassy.”
“They are willing to help if you/we would like a price,” said Hyde.
“Guess you can do anything in Ukraine with money … what I was told,” Hyde wrote in another text, to which, Parnas responded: “LOL.”
John Herbst, who was ambassador to Kyiv before Yovanovitch, cautioned that it was not clear whether the implied surveillance actually happened or was an idle boast.
“If it’s real, it’s outrageous,” Herbst said. “Masha Yovanovitch is a real pro. She was used to being surveilled by the FSB [Russian intelligence], but if she’s being surveilled by a private American, that is truly dark side activity.”
On Wednesday, the chair of the Connecticut Republican Party called for Hyde to stand down as a candidate.
“I have asked Rob Hyde to end his bid for Congress. His campaign is a distraction for the Democrats to raise money and falsely label all Republicans with his antics. In my view he is not helping other Republican candidates or [President Trump] win,” JR Romano said in a tweet.
As of midday on Wednesday, the state department had yet to issue a statement on the new revelations, and canceled two briefings to Congress, one of them on diplomatic security.
“American diplomats should be supported,” Herbst said. “Senior management at state should be concerned about morale … management responsibility calls for a response.”
“A threat on a US ambassador ... would be treated with the utmost urgency if it came from a foreign person,” tweeted Dana Shell Smith, former ambassador to Qatar. “But [attorney general William] Barr hasn’t opened an investigation and [secretary of state] Pompeo, radio silence.”
Eliot Engel, the Democratic chair of the House foreign affairs committee issued a statement saying: “This unprecedented threat to our diplomats must be thoroughly investigated and, if warranted, prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
Engel’s Senate counterpart, Bob Menendez put out a tweet demanding “immediate answers from the Trump [administration] on what they knew and what they’ve done since to ensure her safety.”
“This is not swagger, it’s thuggery,” Menendez said.
In a Facebook post, Hyde claimed the WhatsApp messages were a joke.
“I was never in Kiev,” he wrote. “For them to take some texts my buddy’s and I wrote back to some dweeb we were playing with that we met a few times while we had a few drinks is definitely laughable.”
Pictures Hyde had earlier sent to Hearst Connecticut Media showed him relaxing, smoking cigars and posing with Parnas and Giuliani apparently in a bar.
The state department was due to brief congressional staffers from both parties on diplomatic security on Wednesday, but abruptly canceled on Tuesday afternoon.
The cancellation, first reported by Politico, came before the Parnas-Hyde texts were published, according to a congressional aide. The aide said the state department had given no reason for the decision and had not sought to reschedule the briefing.
“It’s outrageous that the [state department] cancelled the embassy security briefing, just as our diplomats are facing serious dangers,” Engel tweeted. “I want to see this briefing happen before the end of the week.”


theguardian--2020-01-15--Trump impeachment: what happens after the articles are sent to the Senate?

The House of Representatives has named impeachment “ managers ” to prosecute Donald Trump at a trial in the Senate and approved transmission of the articles of impeachment to the Senate .
Broadly speaking , the process against Trump now moves from the impeachment phase to the trial phase .
The proceedings could result in Trump ’ s removal from office – but that is seen as unlikely .
Here ’ s what will happen next : According to arcane Senate rules , after the House notifies the Senate that impeachment managers have been selected , the secretary of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House that the Senate is ready to receive the articles .
Then impeachment managers appear before the Senate to “ exhibit ” the articles , and the Senate confirms it will consider the case .
The presiding officer of the Senate notifies the supreme court chief justice , John Roberts , of the impending trial .
Roberts arrives in the Senate to administer an oath to members , expected on Thursday .
Before consideration of the articles of impeachment , the presiding officer will administer this oath to senators : “ I solemnly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the trial of the impeachment of Donald Trump , now pending , I will do impartial justice according to the constitution and laws , so help me God.
” The Senate must vote on a resolution laying out ground rules for the trial including who the key players will be , how long they will get to present their cases and other matters .
The majority leader , Mitch McConnell , has said he has the votes to open the trial without an immediate provision for witness testimony , which could be secured @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McConnell said he did not have the votes to dismiss the impeachment articles out of hand .
After the Senate is “ organized ” , the rules decree , “ a writ of summons shall issue to the person impeached , reciting said articles , and notifying him to appear before the Senate upon a day and at a place to be fixed by the Senate ” .
A president has never appeared at his own impeachment trial and Trump will be represented by the White House counsel , Pat Cipollone , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ others .
After the oath , the trial proper will begin – although there could be a short adjournment to allow the sides to prepare .
Impeachment managers will make their case , to be followed by the defense .
Senators may not speak during the proceedings but may submit written questions to the chief justice who would cause them to be read .
The question of witnesses and other matters would be decided on the fly by majority vote .
A time limit for the proceedings will be established in the initial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defence may – in theory , depending on the rules agreed for the trial – bring in witnesses , who may be examined and cross-examined .
Former national security adviser John Bolton and former vice-president Joe Biden have both said that they would be prepared to testify if subpoenaed .
The Senate may try to alter the parameters of the evidence under examination by putting forward a motion to restrict or increase it .
The prosecution and the defence will put forward their final statements , with the House managers going last , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and last word .
The senators deliberate on the case .
In the past this has happened behind closed doors and out of public view .
But that ’ s open to change , too .
The senators vote separately on the two articles of impeachment – the first charging Trump with abuse of power , the second charging him with obstruction of Congress .
A two-thirds majority of present senators – 67 ayes if everyone votes – on either article would be enough to convict Trump and remove him from office .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ defections and is unlikely .
The more likely outcome is a Trump acquittal , at which point the process is concluded , barring some highly unusual development such as the House taking action to impeach Trump again .

On Tuesday at 1pm ET, the Senate will convene to approve rules for the impeachment trial of Donald Trump and to hear opening arguments in the case.
The proceedings could result in the president’s removal from office – but that is seen as unlikely.
Here’s what will happen next:
Senate votes on ground rules
The Senate must vote on a resolution laying out ground rules for the trial including who the key players will be, how long they will get to present their cases and other matters. The majority leader, Mitch McConnell, has said he has the votes to open the trial without an immediate provision for witness testimony, which could be secured later during the trial. However, McConnell said he did not have the votes to dismiss the impeachment articles out of hand.
Senate trial
After the oath, the trial proper will begin – although there could be a short adjournment to allow the sides to prepare. Impeachment managers will make their case, to be followed by the defense. Senators may not speak during the proceedings but may submit written questions to the chief justice who would cause them to be read. The question of witnesses and other matters would be decided on the fly by majority vote. A time limit for the proceedings will be established in the initial Senate vote.
Evidence examination
Both the prosecution and defence may – in theory, depending on the rules agreed for the trial – bring in witnesses, who may be examined and cross-examined. The former national security adviser John Bolton and former vice-president Joe Biden have both said that they would be prepared to testify if subpoenaed. The Senate may try to alter the parameters of the evidence under examination by putting forward a motion to restrict or increase it.
Closing arguments
The prosecution and the defence will put forward their final statements, with the House managers going last, giving the House of Representatives the first and last word.
Deliberation
The senators deliberate on the case. In the past this has happened behind closed doors and out of public view. But that’s open to change, too.
Final vote
The senators vote separately on the two articles of impeachment – the first charging Trump with abuse of power, the second charging him with obstruction of Congress. A two-thirds majority of present senators – 67 ayes if everyone votes – on either article would be enough to convict Trump and remove him from office. But that would require about 20 Republican defections and is unlikely. The more likely outcome is a Trump acquittal, at which point the process is concluded, barring some highly unusual development such as the House taking action to impeach Trump again.


theguardian--2020-01-15--Trump impeachment: a timeline of key events so far

The House speaker , Nancy Pelosi , announced an impeachment inquiry against Donald Trump on 24 September .
Over the next three months , Congress investigated an alleged plot by Trump to use the power of his office to solicit interference from Ukraine in the 2020 election .
On 18 December , Democrats approved two articles of impeachment against Trump : one for abuse of power , and one for obstruction of Congress.On 15 January , the House named impeachment managers and voted to send the articles to the Senate , where a trial will play out in which a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remove Trump from office .
Here ’ s a timeline of key events so far : Through his personal emissary , Rudy Giuliani , Trump applies pressure on Ukraine to announce investigations tied to American politics .
Immediately after Volodymyr Zelenskiy ’ s 21 April election as president of Ukraine , Giuliani contacts a Zelenskiy aide and introduces himself as “ an advisor to the vice-president.
” The Ukrainian president-elect , Zelenskiy , meets with subordinates on 7 May to discuss how to avoid being dragged into US politics .
In a White @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the enthusiasm of a delegation of officials freshly returned from Zelenskiy ’ s inauguration in Kyiv .
“ He just kept saying : talk to Rudy , talk to Rudy , ” the EU ambassador Gordon Sondland testified .
“ I don ’ t know what he meant .
He kept repeating it , though : ‘ They tried to take me down , they tried to take me down.
’ ” In an interview with a Ukrainian news outlet , Giuliani says he would like to see the Ukrainians undertake investigations related @ @ @ @ @ @ @ company Burisma and Hunter and Joe Biden .
Mike Pence aide Jennifer Williams flags the interview for the vice-president ’ s office .
At a conference on Ukraine in Toronto , the special envoy Kurt Volker meets one-on-one with Zelenskiy .
Volker testified he did not mention investigations , but his senior colleagues have testified that Volker ’ s plan going into the meeting with Zelenskiy was to ask for “ cooperation on investigations ” .
Lt Col Alexander Vindman , the top adviser on Ukraine on the National Security Council , is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aid for Ukraine .
In testimony , Vindman said : “ But by 3 July , that ’ s when I was concretely made aware of the fact that there was a hold placed by [ Office of Management and Budget ] .
” At a dramatic White House meeting , Trump emissaries ask top Ukrainian officials to investigate Biden , shocking US national security officials .
According to multiple accounts , after Sondland makes the Biden request , then national security adviser John Bolton abruptly terminates the meeting , later calling it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Office of Management and Budget informs the Pentagon and state department that Trump has suspended $ 391m in military aid for Ukraine .
According to testimony by the senior diplomat in Ukraine Bill Taylor : “ In a regular , NSC secure video conference call on 18 July , I heard a staff person from the Office of Management and Budget say that there was a hold on security assistance to Ukraine but could not say why.
” Trump speaks on the phone with Zelenskiy , reminding him that “ the United States @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ukraine ” and then asking for a “ favor ” .
Trump wants Ukraine to announce investigations designed to make Joe Biden look bad and to cast doubt on Russian tampering in the 2016 US election .
That same day , the defense department receives two inquiries from Ukrainian officials about the status of US military aid , according to the deputy assistant secretary of defense , Laura Cooper .
Sondland is in Kyiv for meetings with Zelenskiy .
He takes David Holmes , a state department official , to lunch .
At @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Sondland tells Trump that Zelenskiy “ loves your ass ” , according to Holmes ’ account , and Trump replies , “ So , he ’ s gon na do the investigation ?
” Hanging up , Sondland tells Holmes that Trump “ doesn ’ t give a shit about ” Ukraine and “ only cares ” about the Biden investigation .
High-level Ukrainian officials are made aware of the suspension of US military aid designed to help in their fight against Russian forces , according to a New York Times report @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aware even sooner .
A whistleblower complaint against Trump is secretly filed to the inspector general of the intelligence community .
For six weeks , the Trump administration will block Congress from obtaining the complaint .
A security council recommendation that aid for Ukraine be released is raised in a meeting with Trump , according to Vindman .
But “ the president didn ’ t act on the recommendation ” .
Bolton meets with Trump one-on-one in the Oval Office and encourages him to release military aid .
“ The president was not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the assistance , ” the Bolton aide Tim Morrison later testified .
Bolton visits Taylor in Kyiv .
Taylor brings up his concerns about suspended military aid .
Bolton is “ very sympathetic ” , Taylor later testifies , and tells him to send a cable directly to the secretary of state , Mike Pompeo , raising his concerns .
Politico publishes the article , Trump holds up Ukraine military aid meant to confront Russia .
Taylor testified he was not aware of Ukrainians knowing about the suspension before the publication of this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Zelenskiy sits down with Pence and immediately brings up the suspension of aid .
Separately , Sondland meets with the Zelenskiy aide Andriy Yermak and tells him “ that resumption of US aid would likely not occur until Ukraine provided the public anti-corruption statement that we had been discussing for many weeks ” , according to Sondland .
In a phone call , Trump tells Sondland “ that there was no quid pro quo , but President Zelenskiy must announce the opening of the investigations and he should want to do it ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sondland : “ As I said on the phone , I think it ’ s crazy to withhold security assistance for help with a political campaign.
” The intelligence community inspector general transmits a letter to the House intelligence committee notifying it of the existence of a whistleblower complaint .
Pelosi announces a formal impeachment inquiry , accusing Trump of “ a betrayal of his oath of office , a betrayal of our national security and betrayal of the integrity of our elections ” .
The White House releases a partial “ transcript @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hours before Trump ’ s first face-to-face meeting with Zelenskiy at the United Nations .
It ’ s awkward .
The whistleblower complaint is released .
Citing “ more than half a dozen US officials ” , it presents an accurate version of the Trump-Zelenskiy call and alleges that the White House tried to cover up the call .
Kurt Volker , Trump ’ s former special envoy to Ukraine , testifies .
Afterwards , investigators release WhatsApp messages showing US diplomats pursuing a “ deliverable ” for Trump in Ukraine in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ investigations ” .
The White House releases a letter refusing to cooperate with the impeachment inquiry , and accusing Democrats of trying to reverse the result of the 2016 election .
Marie Yovanovitch , the former ambassador to Ukraine , testifies about her shock on learning about an ultimately successful campaign in Ukraine to destroy her ambassadorship , involving Giuliani .
“ The president did make a decision , but I think influenced by some who are not trustworthy , ” she testified .
When she sought advice on how to stop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was told to tweet something nice about Trump .
Fiona Hill , the senior director for Europe and Russia in the National Security Council , testifies .
She describes a shadow foreign policy in Ukraine run by Giuliani , describes the 10 July White House meeting , which she attended , and says Bolton told her to take her concerns to the top NSC lawyer .
P Michael McKinley , a top Pompeo deputy , testifies .
He says he resigned owing to the “ emerging information on the engagement of our missions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ purposes , combined with the failure I saw in the building to provide support for our professional cadre in a particularly trying time.
” Sondland testifies .
He says he took Trump at his word that there was no quid pro quo with Ukraine .
He will later return to Capitol Hill to partially or fully reverse that testimony .
Taylor testifies .
In a 15-page opening statement , he describes his concern to discover an “ irregular , informal policy channel ” by which the Trump administration was pursuing objectives in Ukraine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ longstanding US policy ” .
Vindman testifies .
He describes his alarm at witnessing the White House subvert US foreign policy in favor of Trump ’ s domestic political agenda and says he took his concerns to the top NSC lawyer .
The House votes on a resolution laying out a process to move impeachment from closed-door depositions to open hearings .
Tim Morrison , the senior director for Russian affairs at the National Security Council , testifies a day after announcing that he will resign his post in short order .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The overlapping testimonies tell the same story , of demands by US officials of Ukraine steadily ratcheting up between May and September , from a demand to investigate corruption to a demand that “ President Zelenskiy to go to a microphone and say ‘ investigations ’ , ‘ Biden ’ , and ‘ Clinton ’ .
” Public impeachment hearings begin .
Ambassador Bill Taylor and the deputy assistant secretary of state , George P Kent , testify .
Taylor quotes Trump as demanding “ investigations ” of Ukraine in a phone call @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Yovanovitch testifies that she felt “ shocked and devastated ” by Trump ’ s personal attacks on her , and that she was “ amazed ” corrupt elements in Ukraine had found willing American partners to take her down .
Mark Sandy , an official at the Office of Management and Budget , is deposed .
He says the hold on military aid was highly unusual and there was no explanation given .
Pence aide Jennifer Williams and Lt Col Alexander Vindman testify about the 25 July call .
“ What I heard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Vindman says .
“ I did so out of a sense of duty.
” Former envoy Kurt Volker and the national security council senior director , Tim Morrison , also testify .
Ambassador Gordon Sondland , the Pentagon official Laura Cooper and the under secretary of state , David Hale , testify .
Sondland confirms every key allegation : a White House meeting and military aid were conditioned on an announcement of investigations and “ everyone was in the loop.
” “ We followed the president ’ s orders , ” he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ senior director Fiona Hill and state department aide David Holmes testify .
Holmes says he heard Trump ask about “ investigations ” .
Hill says Sondland was assigned by the president to a “ domestic political errand ” that diverged from “ national security policy ” .
She warns against spreading the conspiracy theory that Ukraine not Russia was behind 2016 election tampering .
The intelligence committee releases a report contending that Trump “ abused the power of his office for personal and political gain , at the expense of [ US ] @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is referred to the judiciary committee .
The House judiciary committee begins public hearings with testimony by four constitutional law experts .
Three experts called by Democrats said that Trump ’ s conduct clearly represents impeachable conduct , while a witness called by Republicans said that more time was needed to investigate the case .
Pelosi announces that she was directing the judiciary committee to draft articles of impeachment against Donald Trump .
Democratic congressional leaders unveil two articles of impeachment , charging Trump with abuse of power and obstruction of Congress .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ trial , removal from office , and disqualification to hold and enjoy any office of honor , trust or profit under the United States , ” one article states .
On a straight party-line vote , the House judiciary committee votes to move the articles of impeachment to the House floor .
The House of Representatives impeaches Trump .
A first article of impeachment , charging Trump with abuse of power , was approved by a vote of 230-197 .
A second article , charging obstruction of Congress , was approved 229-198 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both cases .
The Republican Alaska senator Lisa Murkowski says she is “ disturbed ” by Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell ’ s pledge earlier in the month to work in “ total coordination ” with the White House on the Senate impeachment trial .
Joe Biden , the former vice-president and Democratic presidential candidate , says he would testify at the impeachment trial if he was subpoenaed , marking a U-turn on previous comments .
John Bolton , the president ’ s former national security adviser , says he would be prepared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Donald Trump if he is subpoenaed .
He said in a statement that he was trying to meet his “ obligations both as a citizen and as former national security adviser ” .
The House returns from recess without referring the impeachment articles to the Senate , as expected .
Pelosi , who had objected to McConnell ’ s vows to work hand-in-glove with the White House , says she is waiting to see what plans the Senate is making for a trial .
McConnell claims to have the votes to proceed .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ managers and votes to transmit articles of impeachment to the Senate .

Tom McCarthy and Miranda Bryant in New York

The House speaker, Nancy Pelosi, announced an impeachment inquiry against Donald Trump on 24 September. Over the next three months, Congress investigated an alleged plot by Trump to use the power of his office to solicit interference from Ukraine in the 2020 election.
On 18 December, Democrats approved two articles of impeachment against Trump: one for abuse of power, and one for obstruction of Congress.On 15 January, the House named impeachment managers and voted to send the articles to the Senate, where a trial will play out in which a two-thirds majority vote would be required to remove Trump from office.
Here’s a timeline of key events so far:
April and May
Through his personal emissary, Rudy Giuliani, Trump applies pressure on Ukraine to announce investigations tied to American politics.
Immediately after Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s 21 April election as president of Ukraine, Giuliani contacts a Zelenskiy aide and introduces himself as “an advisor to the vice-president.” The Ukrainian president-elect, Zelenskiy, meets with subordinates on 7 May to discuss how to avoid being dragged into US politics.
23 May
In a White House meeting, Trump is unmoved by the enthusiasm of a delegation of officials freshly returned from Zelenskiy’s inauguration in Kyiv. “He just kept saying: talk to Rudy, talk to Rudy,” the EU ambassador Gordon Sondland testified. “I don’t know what he meant. He kept repeating it, though: ‘They tried to take me down, they tried to take me down.’”
28 May
In an interview with a Ukrainian news outlet, Giuliani says he would like to see the Ukrainians undertake investigations related to the 2016 election, the gas company Burisma and Hunter and Joe Biden. Mike Pence aide Jennifer Williams flags the interview for the vice-president’s office.
2-3 July
At a conference on Ukraine in Toronto, the special envoy Kurt Volker meets one-on-one with Zelenskiy. Volker testified he did not mention investigations, but his senior colleagues have testified that Volker’s plan going into the meeting with Zelenskiy was to ask for “cooperation on investigations”.
3 July
Lt Col Alexander Vindman, the top adviser on Ukraine on the National Security Council, is made aware of the suspension of military aid for Ukraine. In testimony, Vindman said: “But by 3 July, that’s when I was concretely made aware of the fact that there was a hold placed by [Office of Management and Budget].”
10 July
At a dramatic White House meeting, Trump emissaries ask top Ukrainian officials to investigate Biden, shocking US national security officials. According to multiple accounts, after Sondland makes the Biden request, then national security adviser John Bolton abruptly terminates the meeting, later calling it a “drug deal”.
18 July
The Office of Management and Budget informs the Pentagon and state department that Trump has suspended $391m in military aid for Ukraine. According to testimony by the senior diplomat in Ukraine Bill Taylor: “In a regular, NSC secure video conference call on 18 July, I heard a staff person from the Office of Management and Budget say that there was a hold on security assistance to Ukraine but could not say why.”
25 July
Trump speaks on the phone with Zelenskiy, reminding him that “the United States has been very, very good to Ukraine” and then asking for a “favor”. Trump wants Ukraine to announce investigations designed to make Joe Biden look bad and to cast doubt on Russian tampering in the 2016 US election.
That same day, the defense department receives two inquiries from Ukrainian officials about the status of US military aid, according to the deputy assistant secretary of defense, Laura Cooper.
26 July
Sondland is in Kyiv for meetings with Zelenskiy. He takes David Holmes, a state department official, to lunch. At lunch Sondland orders wine and calls Trump. Sondland tells Trump that Zelenskiy “loves your ass”, according to Holmes’ account, and Trump replies, “So, he’s gonna do the investigation?” Hanging up, Sondland tells Holmes that Trump “doesn’t give a shit about” Ukraine and “only cares” about the Biden investigation.
Early August
High-level Ukrainian officials are made aware of the suspension of US military aid designed to help in their fight against Russian forces, according to a New York Times report. But there are indications they were aware even sooner.
12 August
A whistleblower complaint against Trump is secretly filed to the inspector general of the intelligence community. For six weeks, the Trump administration will block Congress from obtaining the complaint.
16 August
A security council recommendation that aid for Ukraine be released is raised in a meeting with Trump, according to Vindman. But “the president didn’t act on the recommendation”.
Late August
Bolton meets with Trump one-on-one in the Oval Office and encourages him to release military aid. “The president was not yet ready to approve the release of the assistance,” the Bolton aide Tim Morrison later testified.
27 August
Bolton visits Taylor in Kyiv. Taylor brings up his concerns about suspended military aid. Bolton is “very sympathetic”, Taylor later testifies, and tells him to send a cable directly to the secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, raising his concerns.
28 August
Politico publishes the article, Trump holds up Ukraine military aid meant to confront Russia. Taylor testified he was not aware of Ukrainians knowing about the suspension before the publication of this article.
1 September
Bilateral meetings in Warsaw. Zelenskiy sits down with Pence and immediately brings up the suspension of aid. Separately, Sondland meets with the Zelenskiy aide Andriy Yermak and tells him “that resumption of US aid would likely not occur until Ukraine provided the public anti-corruption statement that we had been discussing for many weeks”, according to Sondland.
7 September
In a phone call, Trump tells Sondland “that there was no quid pro quo, but President Zelenskiy must announce the opening of the investigations and he should want to do it”, according to Morrison.
9 September
Taylor texts Sondland: “As I said on the phone, I think it’s crazy to withhold security assistance for help with a political campaign.”
The intelligence community inspector general transmits a letter to the House intelligence committee notifying it of the existence of a whistleblower complaint.
11 September
The military aid is released.
24 September
01:17 Nancy Pelosi accuses Trump of 'betrayal' as she announces impeachment inquiry – video
Pelosi announces a formal impeachment inquiry, accusing Trump of “a betrayal of his oath of office, a betrayal of our national security and betrayal of the integrity of our elections”.
25 September
The White House releases a partial “transcript” of the 25 July call, hours before Trump’s first face-to-face meeting with Zelenskiy at the United Nations. It’s awkward.
26 September
The whistleblower complaint is released. Citing “more than half a dozen US officials”, it presents an accurate version of the Trump-Zelenskiy call and alleges that the White House tried to cover up the call.
4 October
Kurt Volker, Trump’s former special envoy to Ukraine, testifies. Afterwards, investigators release WhatsApp messages showing US diplomats pursuing a “deliverable” for Trump in Ukraine in the form of the Biden and 2016 election-tampering “investigations”.
8 October
The White House releases a letter refusing to cooperate with the impeachment inquiry, and accusing Democrats of trying to reverse the result of the 2016 election.
11 October
Marie Yovanovitch, the former ambassador to Ukraine, testifies about her shock on learning about an ultimately successful campaign in Ukraine to destroy her ambassadorship, involving Giuliani. “The president did make a decision, but I think influenced by some who are not trustworthy,” she testified. When she sought advice on how to stop the attack, she said, she was told to tweet something nice about Trump.
14 October
Fiona Hill, the senior director for Europe and Russia in the National Security Council, testifies. She describes a shadow foreign policy in Ukraine run by Giuliani, describes the 10 July White House meeting, which she attended, and says Bolton told her to take her concerns to the top NSC lawyer.
16 October
P Michael McKinley, a top Pompeo deputy, testifies. He says he resigned owing to the “emerging information on the engagement of our missions to procure negative political information for domestic purposes, combined with the failure I saw in the building to provide support for our professional cadre in a particularly trying time.”
17 October
Sondland testifies. He says he took Trump at his word that there was no quid pro quo with Ukraine. He will later return to Capitol Hill to partially or fully reverse that testimony.
22 October
Taylor testifies. In a 15-page opening statement, he describes his concern to discover an “irregular, informal policy channel” by which the Trump administration was pursuing objectives in Ukraine “running contrary to the goals of longstanding US policy”.
29 October
Vindman testifies. He describes his alarm at witnessing the White House subvert US foreign policy in favor of Trump’s domestic political agenda and says he took his concerns to the top NSC lawyer.
31 October
The House votes on a resolution laying out a process to move impeachment from closed-door depositions to open hearings. Tim Morrison, the senior director for Russian affairs at the National Security Council, testifies a day after announcing that he will resign his post in short order.
5 November
The impeachment committees begin releasing testimony transcripts. The overlapping testimonies tell the same story, of demands by US officials of Ukraine steadily ratcheting up between May and September, from a demand to investigate corruption to a demand that “President Zelenskiy to go to a microphone and say ‘investigations’, ‘Biden’, and ‘Clinton’.”
13 November
Public impeachment hearings begin. Ambassador Bill Taylor and the deputy assistant secretary of state, George P Kent, testify. Taylor quotes Trump as demanding “investigations” of Ukraine in a phone call overheard by an aide.
15 November
Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch testifies that she felt “shocked and devastated” by Trump’s personal attacks on her, and that she was “amazed” corrupt elements in Ukraine had found willing American partners to take her down.
Taylor aide David Holmes is deposed behind closed doors.
16 November
Mark Sandy, an official at the Office of Management and Budget, is deposed. He says the hold on military aid was highly unusual and there was no explanation given.
19 November
Pence aide Jennifer Williams and Lt Col Alexander Vindman testify about the 25 July call. “What I heard was inappropriate and I reported it,” Vindman says. “I did so out of a sense of duty.” Former envoy Kurt Volker and the national security council senior director, Tim Morrison, also testify.
20 November
Ambassador Gordon Sondland, the Pentagon official Laura Cooper and the under secretary of state, David Hale, testify. Sondland confirms every key allegation: a White House meeting and military aid were conditioned on an announcement of investigations and “everyone was in the loop.” “We followed the president’s orders,” he says.
21 November
The former national security council senior director Fiona Hill and state department aide David Holmes testify. Holmes says he heard Trump ask about “investigations”. Hill says Sondland was assigned by the president to a “domestic political errand” that diverged from “national security policy”. She warns against spreading the conspiracy theory that Ukraine not Russia was behind 2016 election tampering.
3 December
The intelligence committee releases a report contending that Trump “abused the power of his office for personal and political gain, at the expense of [US] national security”. The impeachment inquiry is referred to the judiciary committee.
4 December
The House judiciary committee begins public hearings with testimony by four constitutional law experts. Three experts called by Democrats said that Trump’s conduct clearly represents impeachable conduct, while a witness called by Republicans said that more time was needed to investigate the case.
5 December
Pelosi announces that she was directing the judiciary committee to draft articles of impeachment against Donald Trump.
10 December
Democratic congressional leaders unveil two articles of impeachment, charging Trump with abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. “President Trump thus warrants impeachment and trial, removal from office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any office of honor, trust or profit under the United States,” one article states.
13 December
On a straight party-line vote, the House judiciary committee votes to move the articles of impeachment to the House floor.
18 December
The House of Representatives impeaches Trump. A first article of impeachment, charging Trump with abuse of power, was approved by a vote of 230-197. A second article, charging obstruction of Congress, was approved 229-198, with one “present” vote in both cases.
24 December
The Republican Alaska senator Lisa Murkowski says she is “disturbed” by Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell’s pledge earlier in the month to work in “total coordination” with the White House on the Senate impeachment trial.
28 December
Joe Biden, the former vice-president and Democratic presidential candidate, says he would testify at the impeachment trial if he was subpoenaed, marking a U-turn on previous comments.
6 January
John Bolton, the president’s former national security adviser, says he would be prepared to testify in the impeachment trial of Donald Trump if he is subpoenaed. He said in a statement that he was trying to meet his “obligations both as a citizen and as former national security adviser”.
7 January
The House returns from recess without referring the impeachment articles to the Senate, as expected. Pelosi, who had objected to McConnell’s vows to work hand-in-glove with the White House, says she is waiting to see what plans the Senate is making for a trial. McConnell claims to have the votes to proceed.
15 January
The House of Representatives names seven impeachment managers and votes to transmit articles of impeachment to the Senate.


theguardian--2020-01-15--Trump rails against refrigerators and promises cleaner dishes

Donald Trump unveiled unusual , new campaign promises to a crowd of thousands of his fervent supporters at a Milwaukee campaign rally on Tuesday : better household appliances .
While Democratic presidential candidates sparred over climate change at their debate in Iowa , Trump offered a contrasting message in the vital swing state of Wisconsin by calling out the Department of Energy for tightening energy efficiency standards for dishwashers , refrigerators , lightbulbs and more .
The rally , held at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Panther Arena , took a strange turn to appliances , with Trump taking particular offense @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Sinks , toilets , and showers – you don ’ t get any water , ” he said .
He also railed into dishwashers and refrigerators , evoking nostalgia for more powerful machines .
“ Remember the dishwasher ?
You ’ d press it , boom !
There ’ d be , like , an explosion .
Five minutes later you open it up , the steam pours out , ” he said .
Trump then criticized newer models , claiming women – just women – across the country have to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” .
“ Anybody have a new dishwasher ?
I ’ m sorry for that , ” he told the crowd , promising that under his presidency their “ dishes will be beautiful ” .
But beneath the surreal prospect of the US president publicly promising better dishwashers lies more disturbing reasoning – which could chime with Trump ’ s rightwing base .
The rant follows months of increasing criticisms from Republican lawmakers to energy regulators over stricter environmental standards .
According to the International Energy Agency , a common critique of energy-efficient @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resulting in more usage , reversing energy savings effects .
In December , the Trump administration gutted Obama-era standards on energy-saving lightbulbs .
The measures mandate a gradual phasing out of incandescent bulbs , which Trump blames for his often carrot-like hue .
“ I always look orange .
And so do you !
The light is the worst.
” The criticisms also come just a day after some Republicans condemned bipartisan legislation to gradually eliminate or reduce heat-trapping chemicals in air conditioners and refrigerators .
Opponents pinpoint a potential rise in costs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has support from environmental advocates and appliance industry leaders even as Trump probably calculates it has appeal to a support base skeptical of environmental causes and hostile to government regulation .
Trump gave the rallying call to a sold-out arena of mostly white attendees .
Milwaukee is one of the most segregated cities in America , with minorities concentrated in the city and whites primarily in the suburbs .
Chants among the diverse crowd of hundreds of protesters outside the arena called out this irony as more than a dozen organizations representing multiple @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are letting our government know that no matter what they do , we will never stay silent , ” Nadxely Sanchez , of Voces de la Frontera , told the local Fox affiliate WITI .
In an interview with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel , the Democratic congresswoman Gwen Moore criticized the president for hosting the rally in “ Brew City ” , where Democrats will host their Democratic national convention in July , calling it “ part of a psychological warfare because his platform is entirely based on emotion ” .
“ All @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a ] strategy and of course to draw attention away from our debate , ” she said .
“ What do animals do ?
They just kind of pee on your carpet .
”

Donald Trump unveiled unusual, new campaign promises to a crowd of thousands of his fervent supporters at a Milwaukee campaign rally on Tuesday: better household appliances.
While Democratic presidential candidates sparred over climate change at their debate in Iowa, Trump offered a contrasting message in the vital swing state of Wisconsin by calling out the Department of Energy for tightening energy efficiency standards for dishwashers, refrigerators, lightbulbs and more.
The rally, held at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Panther Arena, took a strange turn to appliances, with Trump taking particular offense at household items that limit water usage. “Sinks, toilets, and showers – you don’t get any water,” he said.
He also railed into dishwashers and refrigerators, evoking nostalgia for more powerful machines.
“Remember the dishwasher? You’d press it, boom! There’d be, like, an explosion. Five minutes later you open it up, the steam pours out,” he said. Trump then criticized newer models, claiming women – just women – across the country have to now wash their dishes “10 times”.
“Anybody have a new dishwasher? I’m sorry for that,” he told the crowd, promising that under his presidency their “dishes will be beautiful”.
Trump's complaints about new dishwashers are nuts and suggest he's never used one in his life pic.twitter.com/D7E6R0TNsQ — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) January 15, 2020
But beneath the surreal prospect of the US president publicly promising better dishwashers lies more disturbing reasoning – which could chime with Trump’s rightwing base.
The rant follows months of increasing criticisms from Republican lawmakers to energy regulators over stricter environmental standards. According to the International Energy Agency, a common critique of energy-efficient appliances is that they are inefficient, resulting in more usage, reversing energy savings effects.
In December, the Trump administration gutted Obama-era standards on energy-saving lightbulbs. The measures mandate a gradual phasing out of incandescent bulbs, which Trump blames for his often carrot-like hue. “I always look orange. And so do you! The light is the worst.”
The criticisms also come just a day after some Republicans condemned bipartisan legislation to gradually eliminate or reduce heat-trapping chemicals in air conditioners and refrigerators. Opponents pinpoint a potential rise in costs for consumers. But the bipartisan legislation has support from environmental advocates and appliance industry leaders even as Trump probably calculates it has appeal to a support base skeptical of environmental causes and hostile to government regulation.
Trump gave the rallying call to a sold-out arena of mostly white attendees. Milwaukee is one of the most segregated cities in America, with minorities concentrated in the city and whites primarily in the suburbs. Chants among the diverse crowd of hundreds of protesters outside the arena called out this irony as more than a dozen organizations representing multiple interests held a demonstration.
“We are letting our government know that no matter what they do, we will never stay silent,” Nadxely Sanchez, of Voces de la Frontera, told the local Fox affiliate WITI.
In an interview with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the Democratic congresswoman Gwen Moore criticized the president for hosting the rally in “Brew City”, where Democrats will host their Democratic national convention in July, calling it “part of a psychological warfare because his platform is entirely based on emotion”.
“All of this is all part of [a] strategy and of course to draw attention away from our debate,” she said. “What do animals do? They just kind of pee on your carpet.”


theguardian--2020-01-14--'Treated like a terrorist': US deports growing number of Iranian students with valid visas from US a

'Treated like a terrorist': US deports growing number of Iranian students with valid visas from US airports

Mohammad Elmi was on his way to fulfill a lifelong dream .
On 13 December 2019 , the 31-year-old Iranian boarded a flight to Los Angeles to join his wife in the United States and start a PhD program at the University of California , Santa Barbara .
Sixty-five hours later , he was back in the Iranian capital , Tehran , refused entry to the United States by immigration officers at the airport .
In Iran , Elmi had helped design the country ’ s first portable electrocardiogram device , which made cardiac monitoring more accessible to rural populations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ applications of electrical engineering in Santa Barbara , where his wife Shima Mousavi is pursuing a master ’ s degree , and had received a visa to travel to the US .
Preparing for the move , he had left his job and depleted his savings , planning to live off his new teaching and research assistant position .
But when Elmi stepped off the plane after a long , sleepless flight , he was detained by US Customs and Border Protection ( CBP ) .
Over the next 24 hours , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a restricted section of Los Angeles international airport and was searched and questioned repeatedly by CBP .
Mousavi waited near the airport for eight hours before her phone rang .
“ I ’ m so sorry , ” Elmi told her .
“ They are sending me back to Iran.
” Last year , the Guardian reported US authorities were increasingly stopping Iranian students from boarding US-bound flights without informing them their visas had been cancelled prior to travel .
In recent months , however , a growing number of Iranians with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arrival at US airports by Customs and Border Protection and deported back to Iran .
Some of them have been barred from returning to the United States for years .
Since August , at least 10 students have been sent back to Iran upon their arrival at US airports , the Guardian found , the most recent of whom was deported on 3 January .
Seven of those 10 students had flown into Logan international airport in Boston , where some of them allege serious infractions by CBP , including multiple complaints about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Public Affairs Alliance of Iranian Americans , a not-for-profit advocacy organization , the removal of Iranian students upon their arrival “ has increased substantially within the past few months ” as political tensions between Washington and Tehran have escalated .
“ The number of cases we hear about from other communities does not compare to what ’ s happening to Iranians , ” said Ali Rahnama , PAAIA attorney .
By the time Iranian students arrive at a US airport , they ’ ve already gone through a lengthy and intense approval process @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the Trump administration ’ s travel ban , which bars most Iranians from traveling to the US .
While most student visa applications are handled within US embassies , visas for Iranians are vetted by US intelligence agencies in Washington DC and greenlit by the Department of Homeland Security before being issued .
Despite the rigorous vetting process , CBP appeared to question , in most of the deported students ’ cases , whether their past or future work might violate US sanctions on Iran ’ s government , nuclear and energy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accused them during questioning of concealing connections with the Iranian government they had allegedly established during the two years of military service all men in Iran must complete .
Those students said they had fulfilled their military service doing low-level administrative tasks .
Elmi worked in an office that provided housing loans to army personnel .
Javad , an incoming University of Pittsburgh student who declined to give his last name out of concern for future visa applications , said he was told by CBP officers at the Boston airport he was being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to his service , even though he had completed his military service filing paperwork in a dentistry office .
Another student who declined to be identified said he was deported from Boston after officers found a photo on his phone showing him in military uniform .
Several immigration attorneys said they could not make sense of these deportations .
“ Why should an eight-month visa process be thrown out over a couple questions at the airport ?
” Rahnama said .
“ These students already disclosed all their information and went through months @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he added .
Elmi said many of the questions CBP asked him at LAX had come up during his visa application process months earlier .
“ They were the exact same questions , ” he said .
“ If there was any problem with my career , they should not have issued me a visa , ” said Mahla Shahkhajeh , an incoming Iowa State University graduate student , who was refused entry at the Boston airport in late December over her work for a packaging company that sold products to companies associated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quit her job after receiving her US visa , moved out of her apartment , turned down other PhD offers and bought a plane ticket to the US that cost four months ’ pay .
“ They ruined my plans for the next five years , ” she said .
In addition to being questioned , the students say they had their phones , laptops and hard drives searched .
Some were asked questions about their religious and political beliefs .
Between rounds of questioning , officers searched the contents of Elmi ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ phone and write down the password .
Then in another room , they told him to spread his legs and put his hands on the wall .
“ They started with my legs and worked up , ” Elmi said .
“ They treated me like I was a terrorist.
” Several of the students who were deported from the Boston airport said the screening there was aggressive and in some cases abusive .
A student held for questioning at the airport in August while he was en route to Detroit said he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a metal table .
“ In the room , the officer ’ s behavior changed .
He got aggressive , ” said the student , who declined to be identified for fear of retribution in future visa applications .
“ Tell us the fucking truth !
” the student remembers the officer shouting .
“ I was so scared I was shaking , ” the student said .
The officer asked him if he was a radical Muslim .
Other students reported that same officer had shouted at them , asking one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if he “ likes blondes like other Arabs do ” .
One student said he was told by a CBP translator in Logan airport to avoid flying through Boston in the future .
“ If you get a new visa , ” the student recalls the translator saying , “ don ’ t fly through Boston .
The rules are stricter here.
” All of the students denied entry in Boston were officially deported and banned from the US for five years .
Multiple students said CBP gave them records of their questioning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while others were put on planes back to Iran without a copy of the paperwork .
“ I don ’ t know under which section of the law I was not allowed to enter the US , ” Shahkhajeh said .
CBP told the Guardian it was not at liberty to discuss an individual ’ s processing and that it prohibits profiling on the basis of race or religion .
“ CBP has understood Iran and its proxies to be a very capable adversary for some time , ” a CBP spokesperson , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , adding that the agency “ is operating with an enhanced security posture ” .
CBP did not respond to specific questions about the practices at Logan airport .
PAAIA said it plans to file a complaint on behalf of the students with the Department of Homeland Security ’ s Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties .
The advocacy group will ask for an investigation into whether there is a nationwide change in policy causing the deportation of Iranians at ports of entry , or whether certain airports might have issued their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ What is happening with Iranian students is incredibly surprising , ” said Mahsa Khanbabai , the New England chapter chair for the American Immigration Lawyers Association ( AILA ) .
“ It definitely warrants an investigation.
” After eight hours at the Los Angeles airport , an officer told Elmi he could go back to Iran voluntarily or roll the dice and let CBP either grant him entry or formally deport him , an outcome that would come with a five-year ban from the US .
Elmi started crying , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voluntarily withdraw without seeing his wife .
Eventually , CBP told Elmi he would be deported unless he chose to leave .
He agreed , and was given a $ 3,750 bill for the flight back to Iran .
Around 9pm , CBP stamped the words “ application for admission withdrawn ” in his passport and handed him a phone to call his wife .
“ It was a very short call , ” he said .
“ I wanted to show her that I am strong and this is not a big @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see me ?
” Mousavi asked .
Mousavi searched the airport for help finding her husband , but the CBP office was closed for the night .
She wandered through the terminal until daybreak .
To console herself , she wrote Elmi a text message , though she knew he would not receive it .
“ Here in the airport I can feel you close to me.
” She was still at the airport at 3pm when Elmi used in-flight wifi to send her a voice message , asking her to forgive him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been adrift .
Their financial losses are compounded by the dramatic fall of the Iranian rial over the past several years , largely a result of US sanctions .
Now they ’ re broke , jobless and thousands of miles apart with no idea when they will be able to see each other .
Mousavi does not know where she will find the money to complete her master ’ s program .

Mohammad Elmi was on his way to fulfill a lifelong dream. On 13 December 2019, the 31-year-old Iranian boarded a flight to Los Angeles to join his wife in the United States and start a PhD program at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Sixty-five hours later, he was back in the Iranian capital, Tehran, refused entry to the United States by immigration officers at the airport.
In Iran, Elmi had helped design the country’s first portable electrocardiogram device, which made cardiac monitoring more accessible to rural populations. He was accepted to study biomedical applications of electrical engineering in Santa Barbara, where his wife Shima Mousavi is pursuing a master’s degree, and had received a visa to travel to the US. Preparing for the move, he had left his job and depleted his savings, planning to live off his new teaching and research assistant position.
But when Elmi stepped off the plane after a long, sleepless flight, he was detained by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Over the next 24 hours, he was held in a series of rooms in a restricted section of Los Angeles international airport and was searched and questioned repeatedly by CBP. Mousavi waited near the airport for eight hours before her phone rang. “I’m so sorry,” Elmi told her. “They are sending me back to Iran.”
Last year, the Guardian reported US authorities were increasingly stopping Iranian students from boarding US-bound flights without informing them their visas had been cancelled prior to travel. In recent months, however, a growing number of Iranians with valid student visas have been detained upon arrival at US airports by Customs and Border Protection and deported back to Iran. Some of them have been barred from returning to the United States for years.
Since August, at least 10 students have been sent back to Iran upon their arrival at US airports, the Guardian found, the most recent of whom was deported on 3 January. Seven of those 10 students had flown into Logan international airport in Boston, where some of them allege serious infractions by CBP, including multiple complaints about an individual officer.
According to the Public Affairs Alliance of Iranian Americans, a not-for-profit advocacy organization, the removal of Iranian students upon their arrival “has increased substantially within the past few months” as political tensions between Washington and Tehran have escalated. “The number of cases we hear about from other communities does not compare to what’s happening to Iranians,” said Ali Rahnama, PAAIA attorney.
Mohammad Elmi, center back in red, said goodbye to friends and family at the airport in Tehran before leaving for California. Photograph: The Guardian
‘They ruined my plans for years’
By the time Iranian students arrive at a US airport, they’ve already gone through a lengthy and intense approval process. Iranians with student visas are exempt from the Trump administration’s travel ban, which bars most Iranians from traveling to the US. While most student visa applications are handled within US embassies, visas for Iranians are vetted by US intelligence agencies in Washington DC and greenlit by the Department of Homeland Security before being issued.
Despite the rigorous vetting process, CBP appeared to question, in most of the deported students’ cases, whether their past or future work might violate US sanctions on Iran’s government, nuclear and energy sectors.
Several deported students said CBP accused them during questioning of concealing connections with the Iranian government they had allegedly established during the two years of military service all men in Iran must complete. Those students said they had fulfilled their military service doing low-level administrative tasks.
Elmi worked in an office that provided housing loans to army personnel. Javad, an incoming University of Pittsburgh student who declined to give his last name out of concern for future visa applications, said he was told by CBP officers at the Boston airport he was being deported because of a sanctions violation relating to his service, even though he had completed his military service filing paperwork in a dentistry office. Another student who declined to be identified said he was deported from Boston after officers found a photo on his phone showing him in military uniform.
Several immigration attorneys said they could not make sense of these deportations. “Why should an eight-month visa process be thrown out over a couple questions at the airport?” Rahnama said. “These students already disclosed all their information and went through months and months of security clearance,” he added.
Why should an eight-month visa process be thrown out over a couple of questions? These students went through months of security clearance Ali Rahnama
Elmi said many of the questions CBP asked him at LAX had come up during his visa application process months earlier. “They were the exact same questions,” he said.
“If there was any problem with my career, they should not have issued me a visa,” said Mahla Shahkhajeh, an incoming Iowa State University graduate student, who was refused entry at the Boston airport in late December over her work for a packaging company that sold products to companies associated with Iranian oil production. Shahkhajeh had quit her job after receiving her US visa, moved out of her apartment, turned down other PhD offers and bought a plane ticket to the US that cost four months’ pay. “They ruined my plans for the next five years,” she said.
‘They treated me like a terrorist’
In addition to being questioned, the students say they had their phones, laptops and hard drives searched. Some were asked questions about their religious and political beliefs.
Between rounds of questioning, officers searched the contents of Elmi’s bags and made him unlock his phone and write down the password. Then in another room, they told him to spread his legs and put his hands on the wall. “They started with my legs and worked up,” Elmi said. “They treated me like I was a terrorist.”
Several of the students who were deported from the Boston airport said the screening there was aggressive and in some cases abusive. A student held for questioning at the airport in August while he was en route to Detroit said he was led to a private room with a metal table. “In the room, the officer’s behavior changed. He got aggressive,” said the student, who declined to be identified for fear of retribution in future visa applications. “Tell us the fucking truth!” the student remembers the officer shouting. “I was so scared I was shaking,” the student said. The officer asked him if he was a radical Muslim.
Other students reported that same officer had shouted at them, asking one of them whether he had a girlfriend and if he “likes blondes like other Arabs do”.
One student said he was told by a CBP translator in Logan airport to avoid flying through Boston in the future. “If you get a new visa,” the student recalls the translator saying, “don’t fly through Boston. The rules are stricter here.”
All of the students denied entry in Boston were officially deported and banned from the US for five years.
Multiple students said CBP gave them records of their questioning that were partly inaccurate or fabricated, while others were put on planes back to Iran without a copy of the paperwork. “I don’t know under which section of the law I was not allowed to enter the US,” Shahkhajeh said.
CBP told the Guardian it was not at liberty to discuss an individual’s processing and that it prohibits profiling on the basis of race or religion. “CBP has understood Iran and its proxies to be a very capable adversary for some time,” a CBP spokesperson, Nate Peeters, said in a statement, adding that the agency “is operating with an enhanced security posture”. CBP did not respond to specific questions about the practices at Logan airport.
PAAIA said it plans to file a complaint on behalf of the students with the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties. The advocacy group will ask for an investigation into whether there is a nationwide change in policy causing the deportation of Iranians at ports of entry, or whether certain airports might have issued their own directives regarding the screening of Iranians. “What is happening with Iranian students is incredibly surprising,” said Mahsa Khanbabai, the New England chapter chair for the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA). “It definitely warrants an investigation.”
Mohammad Elmi was denied entry to the US and his student visa revoked by Customs and Border Protection. Photograph: The Guardian
Broke, jobless, miles apart
After eight hours at the Los Angeles airport, an officer told Elmi he could go back to Iran voluntarily or roll the dice and let CBP either grant him entry or formally deport him, an outcome that would come with a five-year ban from the US.
Elmi started crying, and told the officer he couldn’t voluntarily withdraw without seeing his wife. Eventually, CBP told Elmi he would be deported unless he chose to leave. He agreed, and was given a $3,750 bill for the flight back to Iran.
Around 9pm, CBP stamped the words “application for admission withdrawn” in his passport and handed him a phone to call his wife. “It was a very short call,” he said. “I wanted to show her that I am strong and this is not a big problem.”
“Will they let you see me?” Mousavi asked.
“No,” Elmi said.
Mousavi searched the airport for help finding her husband, but the CBP office was closed for the night. She wandered through the terminal until daybreak. To console herself, she wrote Elmi a text message, though she knew he would not receive it. “Here in the airport I can feel you close to me.” She was still at the airport at 3pm when Elmi used in-flight wifi to send her a voice message, asking her to forgive him.
Since then, Elmi and Mousavi have been adrift. Their financial losses are compounded by the dramatic fall of the Iranian rial over the past several years, largely a result of US sanctions. Now they’re broke, jobless and thousands of miles apart with no idea when they will be able to see each other. Mousavi does not know where she will find the money to complete her master’s program.
“They destroyed us,” Elmi said.


theguardian--2020-01-16--Donald Trump impeachment: Senate prepares for first day of trial

The House of Representatives transmitted articles of impeachment against Donald Trump to the Senate on Wednesday , setting in motion a trial that could unearth damaging new evidence of misconduct by Trump as the 2020 presidential contest heats up .
The House approved a resolution to transmit two articles of impeachment on a mostly party-line vote of 228-193 , hewing closely to the tally by which the articles were approved last month .
Addressing her colleagues on the House floor , the speaker , Nancy Pelosi , sharply rejected criticism by Republicans that she had delayed transmission of the articles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me about my timing , ” she said .
After months of resisting calls “ from across the country ” for Trump ’ s impeachment , she said , Trump ultimately “ gave us no choice .
He gave us no choice.
” Trump was impeached in December for abuse of power and for obstruction of Congress relating to a scheme in which he pressured Ukraine to announce false investigations of the former vice-president Joe Biden and then fought an inquiry into the scheme .
The Republican Senate majority leader , Mitch McConnell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ housekeeping ” items relating to impeachment this week and hold opening arguments next Tuesday .
“ We ’ ll pledge to rise above the petty factionalism and do justice for our institutions , for our states and for the nation , ” McConnell said in a speech on the Senate floor .
Following the vote on Wednesday , Pelosi signed the articles of impeachment , which were placed in folders and moved in a procession at sunset from the House to the Senate .
The Senate invited House members to return to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thursday .
At about 2pm on Thursday , John Roberts , the chief justice of the US supreme court , who will preside at the trial , will be sworn in by the president pro tempore of the Senate , Iowa ’ s Chuck Grassley , McConnell said .
Roberts will then swear in the senators , and the chamber will issue a writ of summons inviting Trump to the trial .
The proceedings will then adjourn until early next week .
Earlier on Wednesday , Pelosi revealed the seven-member team , known @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the case against Trump at the Senate trial .
The team includes six lawyers and will be led by Adam Schiff , the intelligence committee chair , and Jerry Nadler , chair of the judiciary committee .
The group includes women , two African Americans and one Latina – a stark contrast with the all-white and -male teams of prosecutors in the Senate impeachment trials of Andrew Johnson in 1868 and Bill Clinton in 1999 , both of which ended in acquittal .
Trump is the third president in US history to face @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and possible removal from office , although that is a distant likelihood , with Republican loyalists vowing to protect him .
The White House released a statement saying “ President Trump has done nothing wrong ” and “ expects to be fully exonerated ” .
No US president has ever been removed through impeachment , though Richard Nixon resigned in the face of the prospect .
A two-thirds majority of senators present would be required to remove Trump .
“ What is at stake here is the constitution of the United States , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what an impeachment is about .
The president violated his oath of office , undermined our national security , jeopardized the integrity of our elections.
” While Trump ’ s removal is unlikely , the trial holds political hazards for him .
He succeeded in enforcing message discipline among Republicans as impeachment moved through the House last fall , but there were indicators that the conduct of some Republicans in the Senate would be more difficult to manage .
A group of moderate Republicans has expressed openness in recent weeks to hearing from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ charges against Trump on the merits .
Those positions could quickly wither under personal pressure from Trump , who has directed rage at any suggestion that his conduct was less than perfect .
House Republicans responded vigorously to Trump ’ s demands that they defend him , offering worshipful assessments of Trump ’ s conduct , which they said was motivated by Trump ’ s desire to fight corruption in Ukraine .
But that posture may become more difficult as new evidence continues to emerge of Trump ’ s alleged wrongdoing .
On @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gathered evidence including a handwritten note by a Trump associate describing a plot involving the Ukrainian president , Volodymyr Zelenskiy , and Biden .
“ Time has been our friend in all of this because it has yielded incriminating evidence , more truth , into the public domain , ” Pelosi said .
In preparation to receive the articles of impeachment , the Senate leadership on Wednesday circulated rules of decorum for the trial .
The rules require senators to be in attendance “ at all times ” , to stand at their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chamber , to maintain silence during the proceedings and not to bring along phones or other electronic devices .
The trial was expected to last at least two weeks , but it could go on for much longer if the sides begin calling witnesses .
Certain potential witnesses , such as the acting chief of staff , Mick Mulvaney , and former national security adviser John Bolton , might be able to fill in details of an alleged scheme in which Trump withheld almost $ 400m in military aid appropriated by Congress to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ White House declined to rule out going to court in an attempt to block Bolton and other witnesses testifying .

Tom McCarthy in New York and Lauren Gambino and David Smith in Washington

The House of Representatives transmitted articles of impeachment against Donald Trump to the Senate on Wednesday, setting in motion a trial that could unearth damaging new evidence of misconduct by Trump as the 2020 presidential contest heats up.
The House approved a resolution to transmit two articles of impeachment on a mostly party-line vote of 228-193, hewing closely to the tally by which the articles were approved last month.
Addressing her colleagues on the House floor, the speaker, Nancy Pelosi, sharply rejected criticism by Republicans that she had delayed transmission of the articles.
“Don’t talk to me about my timing,” she said. After months of resisting calls “from across the country” for Trump’s impeachment, she said, Trump ultimately “gave us no choice. He gave us no choice.”
Trump was impeached in December for abuse of power and for obstruction of Congress relating to a scheme in which he pressured Ukraine to announce false investigations of the former vice-president Joe Biden and then fought an inquiry into the scheme.
The Republican Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell, said the chamber would take up “housekeeping” items relating to impeachment this week and hold opening arguments next Tuesday.
“We’ll pledge to rise above the petty factionalism and do justice for our institutions, for our states and for the nation,” McConnell said in a speech on the Senate floor.
Following the vote on Wednesday, Pelosi signed the articles of impeachment, which were placed in folders and moved in a procession at sunset from the House to the Senate. The Senate invited House members to return to formally “exhibit” the articles on Thursday.
At about 2pm on Thursday, John Roberts, the chief justice of the US supreme court, who will preside at the trial, will be sworn in by the president pro tempore of the Senate, Iowa’s Chuck Grassley, McConnell said. Roberts will then swear in the senators, and the chamber will issue a writ of summons inviting Trump to the trial.
The proceedings will then adjourn until early next week.
The articles of impeachment were placed in folders and moved in a procession from the House to the Senate. Photograph: Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA
Earlier on Wednesday, Pelosi revealed the seven-member team, known as impeachment managers, who will prosecute the case against Trump at the Senate trial. The team includes six lawyers and will be led by Adam Schiff, the intelligence committee chair, and Jerry Nadler, chair of the judiciary committee.
The group includes women, two African Americans and one Latina – a stark contrast with the all-white and -male teams of prosecutors in the Senate impeachment trials of Andrew Johnson in 1868 and Bill Clinton in 1999, both of which ended in acquittal.
Trump is the third president in US history to face an impeachment trial in the Senate – and possible removal from office, although that is a distant likelihood, with Republican loyalists vowing to protect him.
The White House released a statement saying “President Trump has done nothing wrong” and “expects to be fully exonerated”.
No US president has ever been removed through impeachment, though Richard Nixon resigned in the face of the prospect. A two-thirds majority of senators present would be required to remove Trump.
“What is at stake here is the constitution of the United States,” Pelosi said. “This is what an impeachment is about. The president violated his oath of office, undermined our national security, jeopardized the integrity of our elections.”
While Trump’s removal is unlikely, the trial holds political hazards for him. He succeeded in enforcing message discipline among Republicans as impeachment moved through the House last fall, but there were indicators that the conduct of some Republicans in the Senate would be more difficult to manage.
A group of moderate Republicans has expressed openness in recent weeks to hearing from witnesses and a desire to weigh the charges against Trump on the merits. Those positions could quickly wither under personal pressure from Trump, who has directed rage at any suggestion that his conduct was less than perfect.
House Republicans responded vigorously to Trump’s demands that they defend him, offering worshipful assessments of Trump’s conduct, which they said was motivated by Trump’s desire to fight corruption in Ukraine.
But that posture may become more difficult as new evidence continues to emerge of Trump’s alleged wrongdoing. On Tuesday night, House Democrats released newly gathered evidence including a handwritten note by a Trump associate describing a plot involving the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, and Biden.
“Time has been our friend in all of this because it has yielded incriminating evidence, more truth, into the public domain,” Pelosi said.
In preparation to receive the articles of impeachment, the Senate leadership on Wednesday circulated rules of decorum for the trial. The rules require senators to be in attendance “at all times”, to stand at their desks when the chief justice enters the chamber, to maintain silence during the proceedings and not to bring along phones or other electronic devices.
The trial was expected to last at least two weeks, but it could go on for much longer if the sides begin calling witnesses. Certain potential witnesses, such as the acting chief of staff, Mick Mulvaney, and former national security adviser John Bolton, might be able to fill in details of an alleged scheme in which Trump withheld almost $400m in military aid appropriated by Congress to achieve his personal political ends.
The White House declined to rule out going to court in an attempt to block Bolton and other witnesses testifying.


theguardian--2020-01-16--Inside the tent immigration courts that turn away thousands of asylum seekers

Underneath a white tarpaulin roof , behind razor wire and barking police dogs , Wendy Ramírez Penosa and her two teenage sons stood before an immigration judge sitting 30 miles ( 48km ) away from them .
Through tears , they begged the court to keep them safe .
“ My children have been threatened with kidnap , ” Ramírez said through a translator on Monday afternoon , describing threats both in Mexico and in Honduras , her home country .
“ They said I would be forced to work in a brothel.
” “ I don ’ t want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They killed my father [ in Honduras ] .
That is why we are fleeing.
” Ramírez was pleading her case at one of Donald Trump ’ s newly built tent immigration courts , nestled a few feet from the US-Mexico border in Brownsville , Texas .
These makeshift courts , constructed last September , have been inaccessible to the public , but play a central role in the president ’ s “ Remain in Mexico ” ( Migrant Protection Protocols ) policy , which advocates describe as an attempt to curtail the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sending migrants back to Mexico as their cases are processed .
Of the 56,000 cases brought under MPP only 117 or 0.2 % of cases have so far led to asylum relief for applicants , according to data from a monitoring project at Syracuse University .
On Tuesday , House Democrats launched an investigation into the process , describing it as “ a dangerously flawed policy that threatens the health and safety of legitimate asylum seekers – including women , children , and families ” that “ should be abandoned ” .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) , which is the arm of the justice department overseeing immigration court , declined to answer certain questions for this report , citing “ pending litigation ” .
They referred other questions to the Department of Homeland Security ( DHS ) who did not respond despite multiple requests .
The Guardian is one of the first media organizations to observe proceedings in Brownsville after the tent courts here , and others in Laredo , were opened to the public at the end of last week .
The court in Brownsville , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ built on a parking lot next to a US Customs port of entry that is attached to a bridge over the Rio Grande , which links the US to Mexico .
Asylum seekers are bussed in by DHS officials , and line up , single file along floors covered in artificial grass , many holding babies and toddlers , and are then ushered into a courtroom under guard .
They are sent back to Mexico after the proceedings , often carrying belongings in clear plastic bags .
Judge Barbara Cigarroa appeared via video @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a portable building that was listed as Courtroom C. The judge , softly focused on the monitor , sat at an immigration court in the city of Port Isabel .
The voice of a government lawyer was audible on the link up , but their face could not be seen by the roughly 23 asylum seekers present for the afternoon session .
“ I ’ m sorry to hear that , ” said Cigarrroa to Ramírez as she articulated her fears .
The judge encouraged her to find an attorney to assist with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the vast majority of those seeking asylum in the US , Ramírez could not afford one – of the 5,596 cases completed at this court in Brownsville , just 81 people had a lawyer , according to public records .
“ I prefer that you send me back to Honduras and my children to the US , ” she said .
“ Even if they kill me , I don ’ t care .
As long as my boys are OK. ” The judge set her next hearing date for 10 March , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her children after they articulated their fears of returning to Mexico .
Advocates suggest anecdotally that around a third of asylum seekers in these courts express fears of returning to Mexico , where extortion and threats from cartels in border areas is common .
But for those without attorneys , it is unheard of to be taken out of the Remain in Mexico program and held in the US despite articulation of fears , said Andrew Udelfman , a legal fellow at the Texas Civil Rights Project who is monitoring the Brownsville tent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ policy [ MPP ] is absolutely to deter people from seeking asylum , making it as inconvenient , difficult and dangerous as possible , ” Udelfman said .
“ This is the next development on from the child separation policy - designed to deter people from coming to this country.
” The justice department and DHS would not comment on Ramírez ’ s case and did not provide the numbers of asylum seekers in the Remain in Mexico program articulating fears of return .
The Guardian has been unable to verify if Ramírez @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seekers who articulated fears of returning to Mexico – two others citing kidnap or forced prostitution threats – were returned to Mexico after their hearings on Monday .
Although the tent courts are now technically open to the public , their operations remain shrouded in opacity .
The Guardian was not allowed to move between courtrooms during a visit on Monday , and was escorted into a single public gallery by private security guards .
The Guardian was earlier held in a separate waiting area , under guard , away from other members @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from entering the facility on Monday because he brought a pen and paper , which an armed Department of Homeland Security police officer outside the facility said was a security risk .
The Guardian was allowed to enter with stationary , but was prevented from viewing the court ’ s docket list , meaning the spelling of names and the number of cases before the courts could not be verified .
Only initial hearings , known as Master Calendars , were open to the public , leaving merits hearings – where an asylum @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Across the Rio Grande , in the Mexican town of Matamoros , an encampment of about 2,500 asylum seekers has been erected since the start of the policy .
The hundreds of tents are home to mostly central Americans waiting for their days in court .
Aid has been slow to arrive here , and there remains no official Mexican or US government presence .
Instead , volunteers and NGOs have established makeshift schools , legal centers , sanitation services and a medical clinic offering support to migrants .
Many of these facilities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Dr Dairon Rojas , a 28 year-old Cuban seeking asylum , works as a general practitioner as he awaits his next court hearing on 27 February .
He said there remain ongoing health concerns related to the spread of bacterial infections due to the closed quarter living conditions .
“ Sometimes we don ’ t have everything a patient needs .
Blood tests .
X-rays .
We can ’ t do that here , ” he said , adding that complicated cases are referred to Mexican health authorities .
But , at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continued to worry about his own case as well .
“ You can ’ t imagine the stress , ” he said .
“ All I want is to live and work in the US .
”

Oliver Laughland in Brownsville, Texas and Matamoros, Tamaulipas

Underneath a white tarpaulin roof, behind razor wire and barking police dogs, Wendy Ramírez Penosa and her two teenage sons stood before an immigration judge sitting 30 miles (48km) away from them. Through tears, they begged the court to keep them safe.
“My children have been threatened with kidnap,” Ramírez said through a translator on Monday afternoon, describing threats both in Mexico and in Honduras, her home country. “They said I would be forced to work in a brothel.”
“I don’t want to be taken back to Mexico. They killed my father [in Honduras]. That is why we are fleeing.”
Ramírez was pleading her case at one of Donald Trump’s newly built tent immigration courts, erected a few feet from the US-Mexico border in Brownsville, Texas. These makeshift courts, constructed last September, have been inaccessible to the public, but play a central role in the president’s “Remain in Mexico” (Migrant Protection Protocols) policy, which advocates describe as an attempt to curtail the right to asylum in the US by sending migrants back to Mexico as their cases are processed.
The immigration court tents in Laredo, Texas. Photograph: Veronica Cardenas/Reuters
Of the 56,000 cases brought under MPP only 117, or 0.2% of cases, have so far led to asylum relief for applicants, according to data from a monitoring project at Syracuse University. On Tuesday, House Democrats launched an investigation into the process, describing it as “a dangerously flawed policy that threatens the health and safety of legitimate asylum seekers – including women, children, and families” that “should be abandoned”.
The Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), which is the arm of the justice department overseeing immigration court, declined to answer certain questions for this report, citing “pending litigation”. They referred other questions to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) who did not respond despite multiple requests.
The Guardian is one of the first media organizations to observe proceedings in Brownsville after the tent courts here, and others in Laredo, were opened to the public at the end of last week.
The court in Brownsville, a sprawling complex of white tents, is built on a parking lot next to a US Customs port of entry that is attached to a bridge over the Rio Grande, which links the US to Mexico. Asylum seekers are bussed in by DHS officials, and line up, single file along floors covered in artificial grass, many holding babies and toddlers, and are then ushered into a courtroom under guard. They are sent back to Mexico after the proceedings, often carrying belongings in clear plastic bags.
Judge Barbara Cigarroa appeared via video link on a large TV screen inside a portable building that was listed as Courtroom C. The judge, softly focused on the monitor, sat at an immigration court in the city of Port Isabel. The voice of a government lawyer was audible on the link up, but their face could not be seen by the roughly 23 asylum seekers present for the afternoon session.
“I’m sorry to hear that,” said Cigarroa to Ramírez as she articulated her fears. The judge encouraged her to find an attorney to assist with her asylum application.
But, like the vast majority of those seeking asylum in the US, Ramírez could not afford one – of the 5,596 cases completed at this court in Brownsville, just 81 people had a lawyer, according to public records.
“I prefer that you send me back to Honduras and my children to the US,” she said. “Even if they kill me, I don’t care. As long as my boys are OK.”
Of the 56,000 cases brought under Migrant Protection Protocol, only 117 have resulted in asylum relief for applicants. Photograph: Eric Gay/Associated Press
The judge set her next hearing date for 10 March, and instructed DHS to interview her and her children after they articulated their fears of returning to Mexico.
Advocates suggest anecdotally that around a third of asylum seekers in these courts express fears of returning to Mexico, where extortion and threats from cartels in border areas is common. But for those without attorneys, it is unheard of to be taken out of the Remain in Mexico program and held in the US despite articulation of fears, said Andrew Udelsman, a legal fellow at the Texas Civil Rights Project who is monitoring the Brownsville tent court.
“The purpose of this policy [MPP] is absolutely to deter people from seeking asylum, making it as inconvenient, difficult and dangerous as possible,” Udelsman said. “This is the next development on from the child separation policy – designed to deter people from coming to this country.”
The justice department and DHS would not comment on Ramírez’s case and did not provide the numbers of asylum seekers in the Remain in Mexico program articulating fears of return. The Guardian has been unable to verify if Ramírez, and at least six other asylum seekers who articulated fears of returning to Mexico – two others citing kidnap or forced prostitution threats – were returned to Mexico after their hearings on Monday.
Although the tent courts are now technically open to the public, their operations remain shrouded in opacity.
The Guardian was not allowed to move between courtrooms during a visit on Monday, and was escorted into a single public gallery by private security guards. The Guardian was earlier held in a separate waiting area, under guard, away from other members of the public. Udelsman was blocked from entering the facility on Monday because he brought a pen and paper, which an armed Department of Homeland Security police officer outside the facility said was a security risk.
The Guardian was allowed to enter with stationary, but was prevented from viewing the court’s docket list, meaning the spelling of names and the number of cases before the courts could not be verified. Only initial hearings, known as Master Calendars, were open to the public, leaving merits hearings – where an asylum case is finally decided – inaccessible.
Across the Rio Grande, in the Mexican town of Matamoros, an encampment of about 2,500 asylum seekers has been erected since the start of the policy.
Dr Dairon Rojas, a 28 year-old Cuban seeking asylum, works in a makeshift medical clinic in an encampment in Matamoros, Mexico. Photograph: Oliver Laughland/The Guardian
The hundreds of tents are home to mostly central Americans waiting for their days in court. Aid has been slow to arrive here, and there remains no official Mexican or US government presence. Instead, volunteers and NGOs have established makeshift schools, legal centers, sanitation services and a medical clinic offering support to migrants. Many of these facilities are being staffed by asylum seekers themselves.
Dr Dairon Rojas, a 28-year-old Cuban seeking asylum, works as a general practitioner as he awaits his next court hearing on 27 February. He said there remain ongoing health concerns related to the spread of bacterial infections due to the closed quarter living conditions.
“Sometimes we don’t have everything a patient needs. Blood tests. X-rays. We can’t do that here,” he said, adding that complicated cases are referred to Mexican health authorities.
But, at the back of his mind, Rojas continued to worry about his own case as well.
“You can’t imagine the stress,” he said. “All I want is to live and work in the US.”