Detained person holding phone

U.S. immigration agency blocks lawyer access to detainees, groups say – Reuters

By Daniel Wiessner “Groups that provide legal services to immigrants seeking asylum have filed a lawsuit accusing the U.S. agency that operates detention facilities of violating the U.S. Constitution by making it difficult for lawyers to meet with detainees. The five nonprofit groups, represented by the American Civil Liberties Union, claim U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has prevented regular …

ICE Detention Hallway

ACLU, civil rights groups, allege abuses against immigrant detainees in North Florida jail – Florida Phoenix

by Michael Moline A coalition of civil-rights groups that includes the ACLU of Florida have filed an administrative complaint alleging a pattern of “horrific” mistreatment of immigration detainees being held at the Baker County Detention Center in North Florida. The 22-page complaint, addressed to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and related government departments including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), seeks …

Cuban Flag

More Cuban kids are showing up at the U.S.-Mexico border without their parents – Miami Herald

By Syra Ortiz Blanes, Nora Gámez Torres, and Ana Ceballos “Jennifer Anzardo Valdes, director of the Children’s Legal Program at Americans for Immigrant Justice, said the nonprofit law firm has represented more unaccompanied Cuban children this year. They include teenagers between 16 and 18, although they also have younger clients. Some have come to reunite with family already living in …

Influx of boat voyages prompts “Ukrainian treatment” call for Haitian refugees – Haitian Times

by Ashley Miznazi “Cassandra Suprin of Americans for Immigrant Justice in Miami said she has seen a double standard between the priority of Black and brown refugees compared to white. ‘We do support the U.S. response to the Ukrainian refugee crisis,’ said Suprin, the organization’s Family Defense Program director. ‘We just wish that such assistance can be offered to other …

US-Mexico Border

Biden administration ends Trump’s ‘Remain in Mexico’ policy after court lifts injunction – Miami Herald

by Syra Ortiz-Blanes and Michael Wilner “Jennifer Anzardo Valdes, director of the Children’s Legal Program at Americans for Immigrant Justice, told the Miami Herald that Monday’s development was ‘very welcome news.’ Her organization has heard ‘horrific stories’ of kidnappings, threats, assaults, and more happening to people enrolled in the program while in Mexico. ‘We had kids whose parents would go …

Detention jail bars

Florida migrant detention center subject of federal complaint – ABC News

By Armando Garcia “A former U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainee in Florida said a group of officers threatened to take him to solitary confinement, then assaulted him, according to a federal complaint filed by several immigration groups. The allegation is part of a 102-page complaint against the Baker County Detention Center in Macclenny by a group of 15 current …

ICE Detention Hallway

Civil rights groups file complaint alleging ‘inhumane conditions’ at federal wing of Baker County jail – News4Jax

by Tarik Minor “Andrea Jacoski is the director for Americans for Immigrant Justice, whose law firm assisted in coauthoring the federal complaint calling for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to shutter the federal facility. Spoiled and rotten food, a lack of hygiene products and non-drinkable water documented in the complaint are among the injustices immigrant advocates want the public …