When a person is under immigration detention here in California, there are various hearings that can be very impactful. This includes their initial hearing. Such hearings can deal with a range of complex immigration issues that can have major long-term ramifications for a person. So, when it comes to navigating the initial hearing and other immigration proceedings, an immigration detainee may want the representation of an experienced immigration lawyer.
Now, what happens in it is not the only thing about an initial hearing that can have significant impacts for an immigration detainee. Another is how long the detainee has to wait for such a hearing. A recent federal lawsuit alleges that many immigration detainees held in Southern California are facing far too long of wait times for such hearings.
The lawsuit is from the American Civil Liberties Union. It is has been brought on behalf of certain immigration detainees. The lawsuit alleges that it is not uncommon for individuals detained by the border of California and Mexico to end up waiting months before getting an initial appearance before a judge. It further claims that such long waits rise to the level of being unconstitutional. The lawsuit is asking that limits be put on how long individuals can be under immigration detention before getting an initial hearing.
What courts end up deciding when it comes to what limits are on the federal government when it comes to immigration detention can have considerable impacts on immigrants who have been put into such detention. One wonders if this case will result in any new limits being put in place.
Source: U.S. News & World Report, “ACLU Sues Over Initial Hearings for Detained Immigrants,” Elliot Spagat, March 10, 2017
