High Court extends right to due process to immigrants

Supreme Court extends rights of immigrants to due process

Originally posted on Standing FIRM.

Yesterday, the Supreme Court made a landmark decision that upholds due process for immigrants in court. The decision means that any immigrant defendant has a right to be informed about whether or not a plea could lead to deportation.

From the Washington Post:

The severity of deportation – the equivalent of banishment or exile – only underscores how critical it is for counsel to inform her noncitizen client that he faces a risk of deportation,” said Justice John Paul Stevens, who wrote the opinion for the court.

The decision puts a new burden on lawyers to advise immigrant clients about the consequences of a guilty plea…”

Jose Padilla, the defendant in the case, had lived in the United States for 40 years as a legal permanent resident and was facing automatic deportation for a plea made in 2001. He was told by his lawyer that the plea would not affect his immigration status.

Yesterday’s decision ruled that:

“It is our responsibility under the Constitution to ensure that no criminal defendant – whether a citizen or not – is left to the ‘mercies of incompetent counsel.’”

This is a big victory for immigrant rights in the U.S. legal system, though it comes at the cost of thousands of deportations that should have been legally avoided.

For more on this decision check out:

National Public Radio: High Court: Lawyers Must Give Immigration Advice

The Detention Watch Network Blog

Change.org: Landmark Decision: SCOTUS Upholds Due Process for Immigrants

America’s Voice: Justice Prevails With Supreme Court Decision on Immigration Counsel

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Immigrant Detainees File Lawsuit Over Serious Violations of Due Process

A lawsuit has been filed in California on behalf of immigrant detainees being held in a detention facility in downtown Los Angeles.

Accoding to an article in the Los Angeles Times, the lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court says that, "Federal authorities are violating immigrant detainees’ constitutional rights by holding them for weeks at a detention facility in downtown Los Angeles that was designed as a short-term processing center..."

The conditions in the facility according to the lawsuit:

"The center is “regularly overcrowded, causing violence, safety hazards, and humiliation,” while detainees are denied access to attorneys and courts and are rarely provided drinking water or a change of clothing."

An attorney representing the defendents, Marisol Orihuela says "They are detaining people in inhumane conditions, grossly unsanitary and disgusting conditions. There are serious violations of due process."

The full article can be read by linking here.

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Don't Deport Me, Scotty

Today, Breakthrough released a new video called "Don't Deport Me, Scotty". Breakthrough is an international human rights organization that uses media, education and pop culture to promote values of dignity, equality and justice.

"Don't Deport Me, Scotty" takes a look at what happens when a permanent member of a popular space crew finds his status is in question. In any galaxy, when we deny due process and human rights to some, we put all of our freedoms at risk.


To learn more about Breakthrough and their mission of promoting values of dignity, equality and justice, please visit their website at www.breakthrough.tv

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