Today, Hunter sat down with Kimberly Simmons, Executive Director, and Jamie Spencer, managing attorney, at the Texas Rio Grande Public Defender to discuss their role in fighting against the mass immigration prosecutions of Operation Lone Star. Despite immigration policy falling under the exclusive control of the federal government, Texas started OLS after it determined not enough was being done to arrest and deport migrants in the country illegally. As with most tough on crime immigration policies, the goal of OLS is to make the deportation of people go as quickly as possible, without much regard for due process or the treatment of those being detained. This episode highlights the importance of the public defense in stopping states from railroading people through our broken immigration system.  

 

 

 

Guests:

Kimberly Simmons, Executive Director, Texas Rio Grande Public Defender

Jamie Spencer, Managing Attorney, Texas Rio Grande Public Defender

 

 

Resources:

TRGPD

https://www.trgpd.org/ 

Operation Lone Star

https://www.tidc.texas.gov/operation-lone-star/

https://www.texastribune.org/series/operation-lone-star/

https://www.tpr.org/border-immigration/2024-01-11/gov-abbotts-operation-lone-star-seized-control-of-a-public-park-on-the-border-overnight-residents-protest

https://www.texastribune.org/2024/01/03/texas-senate-bill-4-illegal-immigration-justice-department-lawsuit/

 

 

 

Contact Hunter Parnell:                                

[email protected] 

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