LOS ANGELES – The American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Southern California and other groups filed suit Thursday to protect immigrants threatened by Sunday’s expected mass arrest of thousands of families and children tagged for deportation by President Donald Trump’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency.
The lawsuit was filed in federal court in New York’s Southern District on behalf of three non-profit service groups — Central American Resource Center, Immigrant Defenders Law Center and Public Counsel — as well as the New York’s Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project.
ICE is reportedly expected to target more than 2,000 immigrants in Los Angeles County and elsewhere who have missed a court appearance or been ordered removed from the country. A similar plan was scrapped last month.
ICE spokesman Matt Bourke would not confirm the pending raids or offer details, citing “law-enforcement sensitivities and the safety and security of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel.”
The lawsuit argues that constitutional due process requires the government to bring arrested families and children before an immigration judge so they can have a day in court before facing deportation.
ACLU said the suit aims to protect refugee families and children who fled widespread violence in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and other countries at the hands of their governments and murderous gangs. For many of these migrants, obtaining asylum in the U.S. “could be a matter of life and death,” according to the ACLU.
Bourke said ICE “prioritizes the arrest and removal of unlawfully present aliens who pose a threat to national security, public safety and border security.”
He added that 90% of those arrested by ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations division last year had either a criminal conviction, pending criminal charges or had illegally re-entered the country after previously being removed.
“However, all of those in violation of the immigration laws may be subject to immigration arrest, detention and — if found removable by final order — removal from the United States,” he said.
UPDATE: Thursday evening (July 11), Sheriff Alex Villanueva issued a statement saying the sheriff’s department “is not aware of any ongoing investigation by the Federal Bureau of an investigation of subgroups from the East Los Angeles Sheriff’s Station. However, in the event that an investigation is initiated the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department will provide our full cooperation.”
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DEPORT MELANIA says
WHY HAVENT WE DEPORTED MELANIA TRUMP OR TRUMP MOTHER THEY ARE NOT BIRN IN THE US DEPORT THEM BACK TO RUSSIA ASAP.!
Ron says
LET THE RAIDS BEGIN!
Jason Zink says
Deport Deport Deport!!!!
For American’s to have Liberty Freedom you must have Law and Order. Put American’s First ~ Freedom is not Free!
Criminals must be deported immediately, case closed!
True fact says
And by the way most hit and runs. and. DUI AND spousal abuse ARE committed by immigrants
Tim Scott says
Is there some reason you post nonsense and pretend to have facts?
Trumpist#1 says
Tim, look at the unproportionately high percentage of illegal immigrants in the Federal and California prison populations.
Tim Scott says
Well, maybe I would look at that if it existed.
According to Public Policy Institute of California, which has done the math, the incarceration rate for foreign born adult citizens of California is 297 per 100,000 while the incarceration rate for native born adults is 813 per 100,000.
The FACT here is that immigrants make up about 17% of the incarcerated population in California despite being about 35% of the population overall, and that has been consistently true for decades. No matter how you approach the REAL numbers native born are more than twice as likely to be involved in violent crime.
Idiots like D’ump sensationalize any horrific crime committed by an immigrant for political purposes while downplaying or outright ignoring the much more common crimes committed by native born, and idiots like “True Fact” fall for it and make parrots of themselves. Period.
Mike says
Tim advocates for anarchy. Funny thing is, when the SHTF he will be the first to be rubbed out by a more physically capable opponent. Ain’t that right Timmy Boy?
Laughing says
Anarchy does not go to the strongest but to the smartest.
Smarts can overcome physical strength most of the time.
Unless your opponent has you pinned or suck punches you.
Emma says
Anarchy is not smart.
Tim Scott says
I dunno Mike, how about we meet and talk that over?
Oh, that’s right…you always show up with that same line about the same time as “Shane Falco,” who’s real name is coincidentally Mike, makes his appearances. I notice that “mystery Mike” never takes me up on my offer to meet. Maybe I should just go visit “Shane” and see what he thinks.
Races aclu says
ACLU is a scam and they are racist and I can prove it
Ron says
About time we enforce our laws. This is a Celebration Day. Thank You Mr. PRESIDENT. BUILD THE WALL!!! 100 FEET HIGH!!!
Trumpist#1 says
Amen. Yes Sir, Brother Ron.
Celebrate the beginning of the rebirth of OUR country.
MAGA and KAG
B Tyler says
FAKE NEWS. ICE is a Federal agency. They are not Donald Trump’s ICE. What a load of garbage. AV Times should be ashamed of itself.