By Gisela Salomon and Valeria Gonzalez Evelyn Wiese, an immigration attorney at Americans for Immigrant Justice, described the lawsuit as an “attack” on mixed status families who have spent years contributing to their communities in the United States. “Trying to rip apart these families and prevent them from accessing a lawful pathway to status in the U.S. is cruel and …
Immigration advocates move again to block Florida transportation law in federal court – Miami Herald
By Syra Ortiz-Blanes “The preliminary injunction filed last week includes several sworn statements from people, identified only by initials, who describe emotional, financial and social harm that the passage of Section 10 has inflicted upon their lives. ‘Our plaintiffs show the profound human impact of who this law affects. We have families that are now afraid to travel together back …
Civil Rights and Legal Advocates File Lawsuit Against Florida’s Anti-Immigrant Law SB 1718
For Immediate Release: July 17, 2023 Contact: [email protected] The complaint challenges the constitutionality of a provision within the law criminalizing the transportation of individuals into Florida MIAMI – Today, legal organizations, including the Southern Poverty Law Center, American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU of Florida, Americans for Immigrant Justice and American Immigration Council, filed a federal lawsuit challenging Florida’s new anti-immigrant …
Migrant workers and advocates sue over ‘vague’ language in new immigration law – WLRN
By Dara Kam “Migrant workers and advocates have filed a federal lawsuit challenging part of a new Florida law that makes it a felony to transport into the state people who enter the country illegally, arguing the law is vague and will lead to ‘unlawful arrest, prosecution and harassment.’ The law, championed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, is among a series …
Statement on Eleventh Circuit Ruling in City of South Miami v. DeSantis
For Immediate Release: April 14, 2023 Media Contact: [email protected] MIAMI — The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) and Americans for Immigrant Justice released the following statements in response to the Eleventh Circuit decision in the City of South Miami, et al. v. DeSantis, et al., a case challenging Florida’s law prohibiting sanctuary policies and requiring local police to act as …
Legal organizations sue ICE, say agency prevents communication with Krome detainees – Miami Herald
by Syra Ortiz-Blanes “Legal service groups that represent detained migrants have sued U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, alleging the agency prevents lawyers and their clients in Miami’s Krome Detention Center and three other detention facilities from speaking regularly and confidentially. ‘Defendants have systematically failed to ensure compliance with constitutional requirements, federal law, and ICE’s own policies regarding access to counsel,’ …
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 …
Legal Organizations Sue ICE for Illegally Preventing Attorneys from Communicating with Detained Immigrants in Four States
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 13, 2022 Contacts: Devra Gelman, Americans for Immigrant Justice, [email protected] ACLU of Florida Media Office, [email protected], (786) 363-2737 Jocelyn De Carvalho, Milbank, [email protected] MIAMI, FL — Several legal services organizations filed a lawsuit today against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for unlawfully preventing attorneys from communicating with immigrants detained in four detention facilities in Florida, Louisiana, …
AI Justice Litigation Program Awarded Florida Bar Foundation’s Goldstein-Van Nortwick Award for Excellence Second Runner-Up
We’re honored to be awarded by The Florida Bar Foundation for our work in the Gayle litigation, resulting in improved conditions for immigrants detained by ICE during the COVID-19 pandemic. Tara Price (left) of Shutts & Bowen LLP presented the award to Americans for Immigrant Justice senior litigation attorney Jennifer Coberly (right). The Gayle major class action litigation was brought …
Formerly Detained Muslims Receive Damages for the Denial of Their Right to Observe Their Religion by Glades County Detention Center
For Immediate Release August 12, 2021 Contact: Lisa Lehner, Director of Litigation 305-573-1106 ext. 1020 | [email protected] GLADES COUNTY, FL— Today, Muslim Advocates, Americans for Immigrant Justice (AI Justice) and the law firm King & Spalding, announce a settlement with the Glades County Detention Center for its discriminatory and abusive practices at a county-run immigration detention facility that systematically prevented …