Exclusive: U.S. memo weakens guidelines for protecting immigrant children in courtNEW YORK (Reuters) - The U.S. Justice Department has issued new guidelines for immigration judges that remove some instructions for how to protect unaccompanied juveniles appearing in their courtrooms. A Dec. 20 memo, issued by the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) replaces 2007 guidelines, spelling out policies and procedures judges should follow in dealing with children who crossed the border illegally alone and face possible deportation.  The new memo removes suggestions contained in the 2007 memo for how to conduct “child-sensitive questioning” and adds reminders to judges to maintain “impartiality” even though “juvenile cases may present sympathetic allegations.” The new document also changes the word “child” to “unmarried individual under the age of 18” in many instances. (Link to comparison: tmsnrt.rs/2BlT0VK May 2007 document: tmsnrt.rs/2BBR8wj December 2017 document: tmsnrt.rs/2C2sWCs)  An EOIR official said the new memo contained “clarifications and updates” to 10-year-old guidance “in order to be consistent with the laws as they’ve been passed by Congress.” The new memo was posted on the Justice Department website but has not been previously reported.  Immigration advocates said they worry the new guidelines could make court appearances for children more difficult, and a spokeswoman for the union representing immigration judges said judges are concerned about the tone of the memo. President Donald Trump has made tougher immigration enforcement a key policy goal of his administration, and has focused particularly on trying to curb the illegal entry of children. The administration says it wants to prevent vulnerable juveniles from making perilous journeys to the United States and eliminate fraud from programs for young immigrants.  One changed section of the memo focuses on how to make children comfortable in the court in advance of hearings. The old guidance says they “should be permitted to explore” courtrooms and allowed to “sit in all locations, (including, especially, the judge’s bench and the witness stand).”  The new guidance says such explorations should take place only “to the extent that resources and time permit” and specifically puts the judge’s bench off limits. The new memo also warns judges to be skeptical, since an unaccompanied minor “generally receives more favorable treatment under the law than other categories of illegal aliens,” which creates “an incentive to misrepresent accompaniment status or age in order to attempt to qualify for the benefits.” It also says to be on the lookout for “fraud and abuse,” language that was not in the previous memo. Immigration judges are appointed by the U.S. Attorney General and courts are part of the Department of Justice, not an independent branch. The only sitting immigration judges routinely allowed to speak to the media are representatives of their union, the National Association of Immigration Judges.  Dana Marks, a sitting judge and spokeswoman for the union, said the “overall tone” of the memo “is very distressing and concerning to immigration judges.”  “There is a feeling that the immigration courts are just being demoted into immigration enforcement offices, rather than neutral arbiters,” Marks said. “There has been a relentless beating of the drum toward enforcement rather than due process.”   Former immigration judge Andrew Arthur, who now works at the Center for Immigration Studies, which promotes lower levels of immigration overall, said the new guidelines were needed.  In their previous form, he said, “so much emphasis was placed on the potential inability of the alien to understand the proceedings ... that it almost put the judge into the position of being an advocate.”   The courts have had to handle a surge in cases for unaccompanied minors, mostly from Central America, after their numbers sky-rocketed in 2014 as violence in the region caused residents to flee north.  While illegal crossings initially fell after Trump took office, U.S. Customs and Border Protection said that since May, each month has seen an increase in children being apprehended either alone or with family members.  Attorney General Jeff Sessions said in a speech in Boston in September that the special accommodations for unaccompanied minors had been exploited by “gang members who come to this country as wolves in sheep clothing.” Echoing some of these concerns, the new memo notes in a preamble that not all child cases involve innocents, and that the courts might see “an adolescent gang member” or “a teenager convicted as an adult for serious criminal activity.”  Jennifer Podkul, policy director of Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) said Congress included special procedural protections for immigrant children in a 2008 anti-trafficking bill to “make sure that a kid gets a fair shot in the courtroom.” “These kids are by themselves telling a very complicated and oftentimes very traumatic story,” said Podkul. “The approach of this memo, which is much more suspicious, is not going to help get to the truth of a child’s story.”  In cases where children are called to testify, the old guidance instructed judges to “seek to limit the amount of time the child is on the stand.” The new guidance says that judges should “consider” limiting the child’s time on the stand “without compromising due process for the opposing party,” which is generally a government prosecutor. The memo leaves in a range of special accommodations made for children, including allowing them to bring a pillow or booster seat or a “toy, book, or other personal item.” It also maintains that cases involving unaccompanied minors should be heard on a separate docket when possible and that children should not be detained or transported with adults. politicsNews
exclusive memo weakens guidelines protecting immigrant children courtney york reuters the justice department issued new guidelines immigration judges remove instructions protect unaccompanied juveniles appearing courtroom a memo issued executive office immigration review ehir replaces guidelines spelling policies procedures judges follow dealing children crossed border illegally alone face possible deportation the new memo removes suggestions contained memo conduct questioning adds reminders judges maintain impartiality even though juvenile cases may present sympathetic the new document also changes word child unmarried individual age many instances link comparison may document december document an ehir official said new memo contained clarifications updates guidance order consistent laws passed the new memo posted justice department website previously reported immigration advocates said worry new guidelines could make court appearances children difficult spokeswoman union representing immigration judges said judges concerned tone memo president donald trump made tougher immigration enforcement key policy goal administration focused particularly trying curb illegal entry children the administration says wants prevent vulnerable juveniles making perilous journeys united states eliminate fraud programs young immigrants one changed section memo focuses make children comfortable court advance hearings the old guidance says permitted explore courtroom allowed sit locations including especially judge bench witness stand the new guidance says explorations take place extent resources time permit specifically puts judge bench limits the new memo also warns judges skeptical since unaccompanied minor generally receives favorable treatment law categories illegal aliens creates incentive misrepresent accompaniment status age order attempt qualify it also says lookout fraud abuse language previous memo immigration judges appointed attorney general courts part department justice independent branch the sitting immigration judges routinely allowed speak media representatives union national association immigration judges dana marks sitting judge spokeswoman union said overall tone memo stressing concerning immigration there feeling immigration courts demoted immigration enforcement offices rather neutral arbiter marks said there relentless beating drum toward enforcement rather due former immigration judge andrew arthur works center immigration studies promotes lower levels immigration overall said new guidelines needed in previous form said much emphasis placed potential inability alien understand proceedings almost put judge position the courts handle surge cases unaccompanied minors mostly central america numbers violence region caused residents flee north while illegal crossings initially fell trump took office customs border protection said since may month seen increase children apprehended either alone family members attorney general jeff sessions said speech boston september special accommodations unaccompanied minors exploited gang members come country wolves sheep echoing concerns new memo notes preamble child cases involve innocent courts might see adolescent gang member teenager convicted adult serious criminal jennifer podium policy director kids need defense kind said congress included special procedural protections immigrant children bill make sure kid gets fair shot these kids telling complicated oftentimes traumatic story said podium the approach memo much suspicious going help get truth child in cases children called testify old guidance instructed judges seek limit amount time child the new guidance says judges consider limiting child time stand without compromising due process opposing party generally government prosecutor the memo leaves range special accommodations made children including allowing bring pillow booster seat toy book personal it also maintains cases involving unaccompanied minors heard separate docket possible children detained transported adults politicsnews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: Exclusive: U.S. memo weakens guidelines for protecting immigrant children in courtNEW YORK (Reuters) - The U.S. Justice Department has issued new guidelines for immigration judges that remove some instructions for how to protect unaccompanied juveniles appearing in their courtrooms. A Dec. 20 memo, issued by the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) replaces 2007 guidelines, spelling out policies and procedures judges should follow in dealing with children who crossed the border illegally alone and face possible deportation.  The new memo removes suggestions contained in the 2007 memo for how to conduct “child-sensitive questioning” and adds reminders to judges to maintain “impartiality” even though “juvenile cases may present sympathetic allegations.” The new document also changes the word “child” to “unmarried individual under the age of 18” in many instances. (Link to comparison: tmsnrt.rs/2BlT0VK May 2007 document: tmsnrt.rs/2BBR8wj December 2017 document: tmsnrt.rs/2C2sWCs)  An EOIR official said the new memo contained “clarifications and updates” to 10-year-old guidance “in order to be consistent with the laws as they’ve been passed by Congress.” The new memo was posted on the Justice Department website but has not been previously reported.  Immigration advocates said they worry the new guidelines could make court appearances for children more difficult, and a spokeswoman for the union representing immigration judges said judges are concerned about the tone of the memo. President Donald Trump has made tougher immigration enforcement a key policy goal of his administration, and has focused particularly on trying to curb the illegal entry of children. The administration says it wants to prevent vulnerable juveniles from making perilous journeys to the United States and eliminate fraud from programs for young immigrants.  One changed section of the memo focuses on how to make children comfortable in the court in advance of hearings. The old guidance says they “should be permitted to explore” courtrooms and allowed to “sit in all locations, (including, especially, the judge’s bench and the witness stand).”  The new guidance says such explorations should take place only “to the extent that resources and time permit” and specifically puts the judge’s bench off limits. The new memo also warns judges to be skeptical, since an unaccompanied minor “generally receives more favorable treatment under the law than other categories of illegal aliens,” which creates “an incentive to misrepresent accompaniment status or age in order to attempt to qualify for the benefits.” It also says to be on the lookout for “fraud and abuse,” language that was not in the previous memo. Immigration judges are appointed by the U.S. Attorney General and courts are part of the Department of Justice, not an independent branch. The only sitting immigration judges routinely allowed to speak to the media are representatives of their union, the National Association of Immigration Judges.  Dana Marks, a sitting judge and spokeswoman for the union, said the “overall tone” of the memo “is very distressing and concerning to immigration judges.”  “There is a feeling that the immigration courts are just being demoted into immigration enforcement offices, rather than neutral arbiters,” Marks said. “There has been a relentless beating of the drum toward enforcement rather than due process.”   Former immigration judge Andrew Arthur, who now works at the Center for Immigration Studies, which promotes lower levels of immigration overall, said the new guidelines were needed.  In their previous form, he said, “so much emphasis was placed on the potential inability of the alien to understand the proceedings ... that it almost put the judge into the position of being an advocate.”   The courts have had to handle a surge in cases for unaccompanied minors, mostly from Central America, after their numbers sky-rocketed in 2014 as violence in the region caused residents to flee north.  While illegal crossings initially fell after Trump took office, U.S. Customs and Border Protection said that since May, each month has seen an increase in children being apprehended either alone or with family members.  Attorney General Jeff Sessions said in a speech in Boston in September that the special accommodations for unaccompanied minors had been exploited by “gang members who come to this country as wolves in sheep clothing.” Echoing some of these concerns, the new memo notes in a preamble that not all child cases involve innocents, and that the courts might see “an adolescent gang member” or “a teenager convicted as an adult for serious criminal activity.”  Jennifer Podkul, policy director of Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) said Congress included special procedural protections for immigrant children in a 2008 anti-trafficking bill to “make sure that a kid gets a fair shot in the courtroom.” “These kids are by themselves telling a very complicated and oftentimes very traumatic story,” said Podkul. “The approach of this memo, which is much more suspicious, is not going to help get to the truth of a child’s story.”  In cases where children are called to testify, the old guidance instructed judges to “seek to limit the amount of time the child is on the stand.” The new guidance says that judges should “consider” limiting the child’s time on the stand “without compromising due process for the opposing party,” which is generally a government prosecutor. The memo leaves in a range of special accommodations made for children, including allowing them to bring a pillow or booster seat or a “toy, book, or other personal item.” It also maintains that cases involving unaccompanied minors should be heard on a separate docket when possible and that children should not be detained or transported with adults. politicsNews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: exclusive memo weakens guidelines protecting immigrant children courtney york reuters the justice department issued new guidelines immigration judges remove instructions protect unaccompanied juveniles appearing courtroom a memo issued executive office immigration review ehir replaces guidelines spelling policies procedures judges follow dealing children crossed border illegally alone face possible deportation the new memo removes suggestions contained memo conduct questioning adds reminders judges maintain impartiality even though juvenile cases may present sympathetic the new document also changes word child unmarried individual age many instances link comparison may document december document an ehir official said new memo contained clarifications updates guidance order consistent laws passed the new memo posted justice department website previously reported immigration advocates said worry new guidelines could make court appearances children difficult spokeswoman union representing immigration judges said judges concerned tone memo president donald trump made tougher immigration enforcement key policy goal administration focused particularly trying curb illegal entry children the administration says wants prevent vulnerable juveniles making perilous journeys united states eliminate fraud programs young immigrants one changed section memo focuses make children comfortable court advance hearings the old guidance says permitted explore courtroom allowed sit locations including especially judge bench witness stand the new guidance says explorations take place extent resources time permit specifically puts judge bench limits the new memo also warns judges skeptical since unaccompanied minor generally receives favorable treatment law categories illegal aliens creates incentive misrepresent accompaniment status age order attempt qualify it also says lookout fraud abuse language previous memo immigration judges appointed attorney general courts part department justice independent branch the sitting immigration judges routinely allowed speak media representatives union national association immigration judges dana marks sitting judge spokeswoman union said overall tone memo stressing concerning immigration there feeling immigration courts demoted immigration enforcement offices rather neutral arbiter marks said there relentless beating drum toward enforcement rather due former immigration judge andrew arthur works center immigration studies promotes lower levels immigration overall said new guidelines needed in previous form said much emphasis placed potential inability alien understand proceedings almost put judge position the courts handle surge cases unaccompanied minors mostly central america numbers violence region caused residents flee north while illegal crossings initially fell trump took office customs border protection said since may month seen increase children apprehended either alone family members attorney general jeff sessions said speech boston september special accommodations unaccompanied minors exploited gang members come country wolves sheep echoing concerns new memo notes preamble child cases involve innocent courts might see adolescent gang member teenager convicted adult serious criminal jennifer podium policy director kids need defense kind said congress included special procedural protections immigrant children bill make sure kid gets fair shot these kids telling complicated oftentimes traumatic story said podium the approach memo much suspicious going help get truth child in cases children called testify old guidance instructed judges seek limit amount time child the new guidance says judges consider limiting child time stand without compromising due process opposing party generally government prosecutor the memo leaves range special accommodations made children including allowing bring pillow booster seat toy book personal it also maintains cases involving unaccompanied minors heard separate docket possible children detained transported adults politicsnews