Illegal aliens traveling on the caravan from Central America on Thursday filed a lawsuit against President Donald Trump, Department of Homeland Security and Department of Justice for what they say is a violation of their constitutional rights. The lawsuit was filed in Washington, D.C. on behalf of six illegal aliens and their children, bringing the total number of plaintiffs to 12, Fox News reported.
According to the caravan riders, the Trump administration violated their Fifth Amendment, which says "no person… shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law."
According to the lawsuit, Trump is violating federal law by preventing asylum seekers from entering the United States.
“The legal problem with Trump’s plan to stop caravan persons from entering this country is that Plaintiffs are seeking asylum, and Trump simply cannot stop them from legally doing so by using military, or anyone,” the suit says, NBC News reported.
The lawsuit also brings to issue President Trump's plan to hold caravan riders in tents, similar to what Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Arizona did in Phoenix, which he detailed during an interview with Fox News' Laura Ingraham. The plaintiffs allege that Trump violated the Flores Agreement, which dictates how federal authorities can and cannot house children and the length of their detention. Under the Flores Agreement holding facilities must have toilets, sinks, drinking water, temperature control, and minors must have adequate supervision and contact with family.
“The President is violating federal law, trampling the rights of Americans and legal immigrants to be free from use of the military for law enforcement, and has set up a potential catastrophe at the US/Mexico border all in the name of white nationalism and with the objective of scoring political points,” Mike Donovan, president of Nexus Services, the immigration services company funding the suit, said in a statement.
President Trump has said he is ending the catch-and-release program that is currently in place.
"These illegal caravans will not be allowed into the United States and they should turn back now because they're wasting their time. They should apply to come into our country. We want them to come into our country," Trump said. "No nation can allow itself to be overwhelmed by uncontrolled masses of people rushing their border."