Michigan District Judge Blocks Deportation of 100 IraqisTop Stories

June 23, 2017 10:25
Michigan District Judge Blocks Deportation of 100 Iraqis

A federal judge on Thursday temporarily blocked the deportation of about 100 Iraqi living in Detroit. They argued that they could be tortured and face persecution in Iraq, as they belong to minority groups.

District Judge Mark Goldsmith issued an order staying the deportation of the Iraqis for at least two weeks as he decides whether he has jurisdiction over the matter.

Goldsmith said it was unclear whether the Iraqis would ultimately succeed.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested 144 Iraqis. Many have been in the country for decades, who came as children.

The arrests have been made for criminal conspiracies, and few of them were committed years ago.

The arrests shocked the Iraq community in the state. Six Michigan lawmakers in the  US House of Representatives urged the government to hold off on the deportations until the white house can be given assurances about the deportees' safety.

The American Civil Liberties Union, which represented the Iraqis, says they include Christians and Muslims.

In a statement,  Michael Steinberg, who is the ACLU of Michigan Legal Director said: We are thankful and relieved that our clients will not be immediately sent to Iraq, where they face the grave danger of persecution, torture or death."

"It would be unconstitutional and unconscionable to deport these individuals without giving them an opportunity to demonstrate the harm that awaits them in Iraq," he said.

The Justice Department argued that Iraqi nationals should fire a case in immigration court, but not in U.S. District Court.

As Judge Mark Goldsmith halted the deportation for 14 days, he must decide if his court has jurisdiction.

In meantime, ACLU attorney Lee Gelernt said: "The court's action today was legally correct and may very well have saved numerous people from abuse and possible death.”

"The court took a life-saving action by blocking our clients from being immediately sent back to Iraq," Gelernt said in the ACLU statement. "They should have a chance to show that their lives are in jeopardy if forced to return."

Undocumented Mother of Three Set to be deported

AMandeep

If you enjoyed this Post, Sign up for Newsletter

(And get daily dose of political, entertainment news straight to your inbox)

Rate This Article
(0 votes)
Tagged Under :
Michigan  ICE  Iraq  District Court  Mark Goldsmith