Immigrant Rights

Attorney General to Reconsider Rules Protecting Immigrants From Lawyers’ Mistakes

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 12:03:27 -0400

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 7, 2008

ACLU

In a radical departure from years of legal precedent, Attorney General Michael Mukasey is considering ending the practice of allowing immigrants to reopen cases that they lost because of their lawyers' mistakes or incompetence. Mukasey announced that he was considering the issue late this summer and then imposed the unrealistic deadline of October 6 for interested parties to submit briefs, preventing organizations opposing the change, including the American Civil Liberties Union and the American Bar Association (ABA), from providing a meaningful response.

Bill Ushers in Humane Standards for Immigration Detention Facilities

Fri, 03 Oct 2008 16:57:41 -0400

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 3, 2008

ACLU

Today Representative Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA) introduced legislation to adopt humane standards for immigration detention facilities that are legally enforceable. The ACLU applauds Rep. Roybal-Allard for her leadership in ensuring that all immigration detainees receive basic minimum protections including access to medical care, phones, legal materials, and law libraries. The bill, H.R.

ACLU Applauds Senators Menendez and Kennedy for Bill to Protect U.S. Citizens from Unlawful Detention and Deportation

Fri, 26 Sep 2008 11:09:52 -0400

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 26, 2008

ACLU

Last night, Senators Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Edward Kennedy (D-MA) introduced legislation to protect U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents from being unlawfully detained and deported by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). In the wake of sweeping immigration raids that have devastated communities across the country, the ACLU welcomes this bill, S.3594, The Protect Citizens and Residents from Unlawful Raids and Detention Act, as the first legislation to require DHS to follow due process standards in executing immigration raids.

Passports Denied: Mexican Americans Can't Travel

Thu, 25 Sep 2008 11:04:38 -0400

by Roberto Lavato

Texas native David Hernandez, a decorated Army veteran who served his country in different parts of the world, can no longer see the world after his country denied him a passport.

Hernandez and other residents living in and around the U.S.-Mexico border are plaintiffs in a class-action lawsuit alleging that, in denying them passports, the U.S. State Department is engaging in a new kind of racial discrimination: non-citizen profiling.

Farmers Branch, Texas Anti-Immigrant Ordinance Is Blocked While Challenge Continues

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 13:21:10 -0400

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 22, 2008

ACLU

City officials in Farmers Branch, Texas today agreed not to fight a request from residents' to block the city's latest anti-immigrant ordinance from taking effect while a legal challenge continues. The American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Texas and the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) filed a request in federal court on the residents' behalf for a preliminary injunction blocking the ordinance. The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas is expected to enter the injunction today.

Deaths in Custody Reporting Act Must Demand Accountability in Federal Immigration Detention Facilities

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 10:35:56 -0400

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 18, 2008

ACLU

Today, the Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to mark up a bill that reauthorizes a Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) program, called the Deaths in Custody Reporting Program, which is designed to report the deaths of prisoners and immigration detainees in local and state custody. The ACLU urges senators to strengthen the House-passed bill, H.R. 3971, the Deaths in Custody Reporting Act of 2008, by requiring federal detention facilities to report in-custody deaths to the attorney general.

The following can be attributed to Joanne Lin, ACLU Legislative Counsel:

ACLU Calls Immigrant Detainee Basic Medical Care Act of 2008 Long Overdue

Wed, 17 Sep 2008 10:46:27 -0400

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 17, 2008

ACLU

Today for the second time in two weeks, the House Judiciary Committee is scheduled to mark up a bill requiring the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to develop procedures to ensure adequate medical and mental health care for all detainees held by DHS Immigrant and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The ACLU urges the House Judiciary Committee members to vote for H.R. 5950, the Detainee Basic Medical Care Act of 2008, introduced by Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-CA).

ACLU and MALDEF File Lawsuit to Stop Farmers Branch Newest Anti-Immigrant Ordinance

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 12:48:43 -0400

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 15, 2008

ACLU

Friday, the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF), the American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Texas filed a complaint in federal court charging that Farmers Branch Ordinance 2952 violates the U.S. Constitution and federal and state statutes. The ordinance, which requires all renters in Farmers Branch to register their presence with the City and obtain an occupancy license, is the city's third effort to restrict residency in Farmers Branch.

More Immigration Arrests Made by ICE

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 11:35:58 -0400

by John C. Osborn

SUN VALLEY, Calif. - Federal immigration agents arrested a total of 23 people illegally working in the United States in several raids throughout the day on Wednesday.

Following a morning raid on Sun Valley Floral Farms by agents on Wednesday, they searched nine other locations in Humboldt County later that afternoon, leading to two more arrests.

The sweep by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents was the result of an ongoing investigation into the Sun Valley Group facility on the outskirts of Arcata, which began in November 2007.

Labor Day: Little to Celebrate for US Latinos

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 11:17:25 -0400

by Haider Rizvi

UNITED NATIONS - A vast majority of Latino workers in the United States are forced to work for long hours and low wages with no health care or any other benefits, says a new study published this week.

The report, entitled, "Labor Day 2008: A Snapshot of the Latino Workforce," shows that most Latinos are employed in occupations that frequently fall short on critical indicators of job quality, including employer-based health and retirement plans.