Feds Now Say They Won‘t Deport Illegals Pursuing Legit ’Civil Rights Claims’
- Posted on June 22, 2011 at 5:52pm by
Billy Hallowell
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NEW HAVEN, Conn. (The Blaze/AP) — Federal immigration officials say they will not deport immigrants pursuing legitimate civil rights claims, a move hailed by advocates as a way to protect a vulnerable population while critics say it encourages abuses.
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement issued a memo Friday that “absent special circumstances,” it is against the agency’s policy to deport immigrants in the midst of a legitimate effort to protect their civil rights. ICE officials said the memos were designed to provide guidance on exercising appropriate discretion.
The agency already allowed crime victims and witnesses to crimes to remain in the country.
“To avoid deterring individuals from reporting crimes and from pursuing actions to protect their civil rights, ICE officers, special agents and attorneys are reminded to exercise all appropriate discretion on a case-by-case basis when making detention and enforcement decisions in the cases of victims of crimes, witnesses to crime and individuals pursuing legitimate civil rights complaints,” the memo states.
ICE said the policy did not stem from a single case.
Yale University professor Michael Wishnie said he and other advocates urged ICE to adopt such a policy after his client, an illegal immigrant from Ecuador, faced deportation in December while his civil rights lawsuit was pending. The lawsuit stems from a raid in 2007 in New Haven that critics said was in retaliation for the city becoming the first to offer identification cards to immigrants.
“It’s quite apparent to me the catalyst for this policy in fact was that effort in December,” Wishnie said.
On Monday, The Blaze reported that U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder enthusiastically announced the re-opening of the Justice Department‘s Civil Right’s division. Currently, the department already has the Office of Special Counsel for Immigration-Related Unfair Employment Practices. This division “enforces the anti-discrimination provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act.”
Also under the Justice Department falls the U.S. Executive Office for Immigration Review. Its self-described mission is as follows:
…to adjudicate immigration cases by fairly, expeditiously, and uniformly interpreting and administering the Nation’s immigration laws. Under delegated authority from the Attorney General, EOIR conducts immigration court proceedings, appellate reviews, and administrative hearings.
In light of the work the aforementioned offices do and the new deportation policy, the timing of Holder’s comments about the re-launch of the Civil Rights division raises some eyebrows. Will the division be taking a greater role in immigration cases? Are the recent changes being enacted to pave the way toward a more amnesty-focused federal policy?
The newfound deportation policy could help hundreds and eventually thousands of immigrants, including immigrants facing wage and other issues on the job, Wishnie said. Immigrants are concentrated in low wage jobs and often face abuses, but in the past might not bother to pursue such claims, believing they would be deported before the cases were resolved, he said.
The memo was “fairly strongly worded” for ICE, said Crystal Williams, executive director of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. She said the agency already had the discretion not to deport immigrants in such cases, but few officers exercised that discretion.
“When there is a civil rights complaint, one of the best ways to get rid of it was to deport the complainer,” Williams said. “I don’t know that anybody set out to get rid of a case that way but it winds up being a great way to get rid of cases.”
Williams said there are not a lot of cases because immigrants are reluctant to file civil rights complaints.
But Mark Krikorian, executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies, a Washington D.C.-based think tank that supports tighter immigration controls, said the policy would encourage more claims as a way to prevent deportations. He questioned how officials would determine what is a legitimate complaint.
“I have no doubt other immigration attorneys will take the hint and use this as a way of keeping their clients from being sent home,” Krikorian said.
Krikorian said the Obama administration was not enthusiastic about enforcing immigration laws and was trying to ensure its civil rights allies that it was on their side.
But Gillian Christensen, an ICE spokeswoman, said the agency was prioritizing limited resources by focusing on criminal aliens who are threats to public safety. More than half the immigrants deported last year were convicted criminals, a 70 percent increase in removal of criminal immigrants from the previous administration, she said.
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Comments (141)
kcinco
Posted on June 22, 2011 at 6:56pmWho is going to define “legitimate?” What a crock of you know what!
Report Post »elphi43
Posted on June 22, 2011 at 6:51pmFirst Impeach BHO for any number of reasons, then follow through with AMERICANSINCE1619′s idea. Why just replace him when you can disgrace him in front of God and the world.
Report Post »hightide
Posted on June 22, 2011 at 6:49pmYes this is great. Now we can ALL just pick the laws we don’t want to follow and cry RACIST if we are arrested and then no charges. It’s perfect.
Report Post »I am more amazed every day…
264win
Posted on June 22, 2011 at 6:47pmIf the Federal Government of the United States of America doesn’t want to follow the law or enforce it then why should any American citizen abide by any of the laws that they put on the books? So they will only enforce the laws that fit their agenda then?
Here’s an Idea why not have every American vote on how they would like the illegal alien problem handled! I have to tell I know of no one that wants these people here!!!!
Eric Holder here is another idea every time an American Citizen is robed, raped, molested or killed by a illegal alien we can collect 2 million dollars from the federal government for our loses.
Hey you want them here so you are the responsible party when they get in trouble.
Our government truly sucks!!
Report Post »michaelmoron
Posted on June 22, 2011 at 6:43pmA majority of these people don’t want to become Legal Americans. They just want to remain Mexicans, but reside and work here in America. And I am supposed to think that is something, other than it is? No. I see It clearly… it is an INVASION !
Report Post »kickagrandma
Posted on June 22, 2011 at 6:42pmMy friends, I think we just shoot them all and let GOD sort it out…. Our government is not OUR government, but one of satan’s design and minions. These people are ALIEN to us on all levels.
I’m not talking about the illegals, but about the people trying desperately to bring down our country.
JESUS GOD, on our knees begging YOU for our country and for YOUR kids and for ISRAEL. Grant us courage to stand, to fight, to defend our country. The “illegals”, LORD, are the people now in charge of our country. Please, FATHER, take them out in JESUS’ PRECIOUS NAME I pray, amen.
Report Post »nomercy63
Posted on June 22, 2011 at 6:41pmDr Horton building 2 new houses next to mine, not one American out of 100 workers yet, framers, plumbers,electricians, concrete, sheet rock, moulding, stone work even the guys that deliver the stuff are Mexican. The funniest part is they have a sign out front saying Americas favorite home builder! By the way I am in Texas remember Rick Perry, yea that guy!
Report Post »SavingtheRepublic.com
Posted on June 22, 2011 at 6:40pm@TNT! I hear ya about the ads I use Adblock and took them out! If you are running Firefox a little tab will appear above the player or anything really that says “Block” you click on it and its a done deal! (works on Safari too (filters need more attention and urls must be specific))
Report Post »dswenk
Posted on June 22, 2011 at 6:40pmObama needs as many votes as he can get next year so he is working to keep the illegals in the country. His cronies will find a way to get them a ballot
Report Post »AZBOB
Posted on June 22, 2011 at 6:38pmHolder need to go, now.
Report Post »mrmikejohnson
Posted on June 22, 2011 at 6:32pmI just heard Obama’s poll numbers drop another 3%. The United States cannot take another 4 years of Eric Holder. It’s almost more important for the US to get rid of Holder than it is for Obama.
Report Post »Justthefactsmam
Posted on June 22, 2011 at 6:30pmExcuse me…“ILLEGAL ALIENS” nuff said
Report Post »fishstx777
Posted on June 22, 2011 at 6:25pmI blame it squarely on the republicans and mainly george bush he had eight years to close the borders and the only two americans too speak out at that time was the american patriot jeff sessions and the other american patriot jim demint I ask this question for the millionth time how much revenue is not be counted by the thievery american illegal contracters and illegal muts not paying taxes I bet we would be shocked to realize how much revenue the states the federal and schools are being stolen and i said it stolen from the american taxpayer.disgusting why dont we all just sign our whole paychecks over to them.and then let them urinate on us for good measure.free schooling free college free health care .no taxes and free food from the churches sign me up for that program.and am attitude to boot.
Report Post »momprayn
Posted on June 22, 2011 at 6:22pmYep. This is just another obvious but devious “ruse” the Dems are doing to keep their beloved illegals here to eventually = votes to keep them in power. Their civil rights re wages – what?!!! All illegals should not be allowed to work here at all and employers should be penalized big time. I pray every day that God will expose and bring all these treasonous criminals in our Govnt to justice CHEESWHIZ – right on!
Report Post »semihardrock
Posted on June 22, 2011 at 6:18pmDoesnt illegally keeping them here violate MY CIVIL RIGHTS as a LEGAL US CITIZEN?
Report Post »EnoughBS
Posted on June 22, 2011 at 6:54pmYes!! my thinking exactly.
Report Post »LibertyWon
Posted on June 23, 2011 at 10:13amDitto
Report Post »Tickdog
Posted on June 22, 2011 at 6:12pmwhen is the US going to grow a freaking brain? jeeze..
Report Post »TeaPartyPatriot
Posted on June 22, 2011 at 6:09pmThis effort by the lunatic-left d-cRAT socialists to unprotect and, in effect, open the US border with mexico is clearly part of their desperate effort to get “You Lie!” hussein a second term. The massive voter fraud by ACORN that allowed “You Lie!” to steal his previous election will pale in comparison to the voter fraud from the millions and millions of additional amnesty-seeking ILLEGALS that this latest failure to secure our border will allow in.
Report Post »Want our country back
Posted on June 22, 2011 at 6:26pmThe American people (except Liberals) are waking up – Obama Gets 30% of Americans Certain to Support Re-Election in Economy Poll
I’m fearful myself for the same reasons…. also, can you imagine if they decided to release all the jail birds to man the polling stations.
Report Post »randy
Posted on June 22, 2011 at 6:08pmEvery day it’s something new with these criminals! ….. Is this the push push push?
Report Post »Progressive Wrecking Crew
Posted on June 22, 2011 at 6:07pmThis is nuts, they‘ll all ’claim civil rights’ violations by the third world dumps they come from…Double DOH!
Report Post »randy
Posted on June 22, 2011 at 6:07pmSo the FED has decided they will be breaking the Law?
Report Post »Colossians2-8
Posted on June 22, 2011 at 6:06pmdo illegal aliens have protection of our constitution if they are not citizens of this country? if i went to another country and broke the law i would be subject to their laws!
Report Post »LOOKING_BOTH_WAYS
Posted on June 22, 2011 at 6:18pmwe all live by the Laws of the land that we are in ………………..I tink
just don’t visit Iran ok
Report Post »randy
Posted on June 22, 2011 at 6:04pmAnyone else smell a civil war in the air?
Report Post »LOOKING_BOTH_WAYS
Posted on June 22, 2011 at 6:10pm…Nope .. I think it’s because my dog just Farted
Report Post »wisehiney
Posted on June 22, 2011 at 6:46pmSystemic breakdown coming fast. Will not need a civil war. Just to survive long enough to outlast these @#$%*&!!!
Report Post »fixer
Posted on June 22, 2011 at 6:47pmThe Tree of Liberty desperately needs watering!
Report Post »GOTT-EM-MAUSER
Posted on June 22, 2011 at 7:46pmThe amount of rain coming soon will qualify as a “Frog Strangler”
Report Post »cheezwhiz
Posted on June 22, 2011 at 6:03pmit is against the agency’s policy to deport immigrants in the midst of a legitimate effort to protect their civil rights.
Report Post »———————
What are “ their ” civil rights ? Is there a special exclusive Constitution for illegals now , which codifies “their ” rights ?
Do we have a list or do they just make them up as they go along ?
How about the WH+Laraza publish the civil rights of illegals , point by point , in detail and remove the fog
CatB
Posted on June 22, 2011 at 6:15pmHI Cheez .. I wondered about that also .. what part of illegal don’t they understand? They are lawbreakers and as such need to be deported ASAP! No “special” treatment or rights .. period.
TEA!
Report Post »cheezwhiz
Posted on June 22, 2011 at 6:56pmHi CatB
Report Post »I wonder if you have heard about this ( this site is not posting links) :
In CA there is an effort to pass a new law for illegals.
When the police / sheriff/highway patrol departments set up sobriety check points here, they end up arresting a huuuuge number of illegal mehicans, because they are the ones ( more often than not) driving drunk an/or driving without license and/or driving a stolen car and/or driving with no insurance and/or driving with no registration and / or driving with drugs in car with intent to sell and/or driving with stolen property in car and/or wanted for other crimes and/or with an outstanding warrant,
IN ADDITION
to driving under the influence.
So what CA politicians want to do is make it a law that at a sobriety check point , an illegal can NOT be arrested and their car can NOT impounded . It can be done to citizens and legal immigrants, but NOT to illegals, because according to politicians, it inconveniences them when illegals get arrested and their cars impounded. So the moment the LEO is told that its an illegal who is caught breaking the law , they HAVE TO LET the illegal GO .
Its Gonna Getcha
Posted on June 22, 2011 at 6:01pmHonestly, stomping that part of the country can be a weird experience. It can be so barren on so many levels.
Report Post »dealer@678
Posted on June 22, 2011 at 8:49pmYea , just keep letting em set fires and burn the country to the ground. These mexicans are going to destroy us that way OR they are going to breed us into oblivion
Report Post »dealer@678
Posted on June 22, 2011 at 9:05pmThe American people have made perfectly clear what they want done to illegal mexicans and it will get done one way or another. Period
Report Post »dealer@678
Posted on June 22, 2011 at 9:11pmI tried to get emergency care for a kidney stone a couple years ago and had to stand in line BEHIND 10 pregnant mexicans. And i had insurance
Report Post »dealer@678
Posted on June 22, 2011 at 10:10pmI worry that my beautiful granddaughter will be put aside in a hospital emergency room because illegal mexicans and their babies got there first. It aint right dammit
Report Post »dealer@678
Posted on June 22, 2011 at 10:23pmHandle it like Israel does. If they cross the line, blow their head off
Report Post »SpankDaMonkey
Posted on June 22, 2011 at 5:55pm.
Report Post »Hey I got an idea. Let’s make them work and pay for all of us.
TNT1
Posted on June 22, 2011 at 6:05pmHey Blaze how about turning off the watch mojo . com ads it’s annoying as hell
Report Post »SavingtheRepublic.com
Posted on June 22, 2011 at 6:08pm^____^____^
I have a better idea dismiss their civil rights claim bc THEY ARE HERE ILLEGALLY THEY BROKE THE LAW TO BE HERE!
Where the heck am I the twilight zone?
Better yet they violate my civil rights by not paying taxes, sucking off the govt which puts added stress on me. Uhh the pressure I cant take it I need an attorney to start suing. http://tinyurl.com/yhglscs
Report Post »TexasCommonSense
Posted on June 22, 2011 at 6:10pmGreat idea.
The word “legitimate” will be loosely interpreted.
Report Post »cheezwhiz
Posted on June 22, 2011 at 6:14pmIf you read the thing carefully, what the memo says is :
Report Post »1. Stop enforcing the immigration law
2. If you find an illegal in the process of commiting a crime, its none of your beeswax. Illegals DO NOT commit crimes.
3. If you end up with an illegal with a deportation order against him/her, don’t enforce the order.
4. Illegals have special protections if they are criminals too , if they just get themselves enrolled in a school/college , or if they have anchor-babies because everything illegals want to mooch off US taxpayers is their ‘ civil right’.
5. Explore every possible avenue for illegals to reward them for their crimes
Want our country back
Posted on June 22, 2011 at 6:23pmWhat is it exactly that the Feds do?
The American people (excluding Liberals) are awake – Obama Gets 30% of Americans Certain to Support Re-Election in Economy Poll
I support Glenn, Israel & the USA – God I love this country
Report Post »AmericanSince1619
Posted on June 22, 2011 at 6:24pmIs anybody anywhere keeping track of all this BS, the czars, the executive orders, the regulations that this administration has put in place, so that it can all be undone as swiftly as possible after the next election?
“Elect me to revoke everything Obama did” would be a winning slogan.
I don’t just want Obama replaced, I want everything he’s done reversed to the best ability of the human race.
Report Post »grandmaof5
Posted on June 22, 2011 at 6:42pmWhat civil rights? They are illegal aliens, they shouldn’t have any civil rights! They should have the right to go home and re-enter the country legally, or just go home – end of story!
Report Post »NetGear
Posted on June 22, 2011 at 6:42pmICE officials said the memos were designed to provide guidance on exercising appropriate discretion.
Guidance… Appropriate discretion… Had to laugh.
Report Post »EnoughBS
Posted on June 22, 2011 at 6:52pmDear Fed,
Report Post »Please elaborate on your definition of these “civil rights”. Humor me!!
Justthefactsmam
Posted on June 22, 2011 at 6:54pmIllegal Aliens…nuff said
Report Post »AmericanSince1619
Posted on June 22, 2011 at 7:08pmSeriously, how much sweeter could it get than a couple of years from now, Obama looks back on his one term and everything has been returned back to pre-Obama, and the ONLY thing he accomplished was waking up about 40% of the population to the nightmare that is progressivism?
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on June 22, 2011 at 7:29pmListen, the fact is if you are here illegaly then you are already breaking the law across the board; you need to be sent home RIGHT NOW!!! We already have a means for legal citizenship, legal entry, and even for cases of hardship for those fleeing from endangerment of their lives in certain cases, so these other people can and need to, be sent home.
This is just one step closer to Obama’s executive amnesty – citizenship coming soon so they all will be inclined to vote for him in ‘12.
Report Post »avenger
Posted on June 22, 2011 at 7:41pmbetter idea…put a bounty on the illegals and double it on the attorneys that represent them…
Report Post »chazman
Posted on June 22, 2011 at 7:45pmHey! Liberal Marxist’s gotta support that Illegal voter base, right? New progressives make good Marxist’s …
Report Post »fatjack
Posted on June 22, 2011 at 7:50pm“effort to protect their civil rights.”
What civil rights? They are not Americans citizens. They have no rights.
Report Post »Live_Free_orDie
Posted on June 22, 2011 at 7:52pmOur Country is going down the drain fast folks…We may not make it to 2012 with these morons in control !!!
Report Post »mils
Posted on June 22, 2011 at 8:58pmhow can they have civil rights?…they are breaking the law by being here, THEY HAVE NO CIVIL RIGHTS
.NO REASONING WITH THIS ADMINISTRATION
Report Post »poverty.sucks
Posted on June 22, 2011 at 9:23pmMexican Catholic Extremist must be stopped at the border.
Report Post »silentwatcher
Posted on June 22, 2011 at 9:55pmillegal have rights to stay??? bloating the constitution with baloney. what a load of crap. pretty soon they will have more rights than the u.s. citizen.
Report Post »WASALIBNOWIGOTIT
Posted on June 22, 2011 at 10:46pmHey! I got a better idea, they‘re all breaking the law so they are all priority so let’s deport them all!!!
Report Post »banjarmon
Posted on June 22, 2011 at 11:11pmIllegal Aliens….barking dog says BANG…just saved taxpayers welfare money….GOOD DOG!!
Report Post »thepatriotdave
Posted on June 22, 2011 at 11:52pmThis is getting absurd. Isn’t anyone pissed off yet?
http://www.AMillionGoWest.com – Help us get 1 million signatures on a petition that asks Allen West to run for President in 2012.
Report Post »nptden
Posted on June 23, 2011 at 12:57amWhat rights? Push them back over the border and let them pursue their Mexican Civil Rights. LOL
Report Post »theCREATORisGOD
Posted on June 23, 2011 at 4:38amThis is interesting, especially considering that on Friday a memo was issued to ICE saying that federal immigration officials do NOT have to deport illegal aliens if they are enrolled in ANY education program (enroll at your local jc and take basket weaving to stay in the country), if they have volunteered in the military (okay I kind of get this one) or GET THIS…if they are pregnant (with more illegal babies) OR NURSING!!! I have not seen this reported in the mainstream media or on cable news and have only seen it on small web sites. However, the author of Arizona‘s SB1070 and Kansas’ secretary of state has commented on it. Read the full memo:
http://www.ice.gov/doclib/secure-communities/pdf/prosecutorial-discretion-memo.pdf
Report Post »kaydeebeau
Posted on June 23, 2011 at 5:27amAs an illgal – already breaking the law by their very presence, the civil right they have is to be given a sack lunch for the bus trip back across the border…..Criminals forfeit the rights of a civil society by breaking the law
Report Post »BSdetector
Posted on June 23, 2011 at 7:00amThe Constitution protects Americans, not Illegal Aliens. They have no Civil Rights…
Report Post »old white guy
Posted on June 23, 2011 at 7:46amthey are illegal there is no case for a legal civil rights claim.
Report Post »Edct
Posted on June 23, 2011 at 8:37amSo the country will be taken over by illegal wet backes who are not smart enough to speak English and Americans are going to sit back and watch it happen…..I hope people wake up….this is a dim allowed invasion of our country. If you care go to numbersusa.com and fairus.org.
Report Post »Sound The Trumpet In Zion
Posted on June 23, 2011 at 9:51amWhy would the want to deport illegal aliens pursuing civil rights claims? The won’t deport illegal aliens that are here to rape, rob and kill so why would they want to deport ones for civil rights either.
Report Post »jkendal
Posted on June 23, 2011 at 10:48amThe illegals are now defacto citizens. We are losing our Republic.
Wake up people!!!
Report Post »Chainsoftyranny
Posted on June 23, 2011 at 10:59amSo, to recap, they were here illegally, reported a crime and now they get to stay? Did ALL of them report a crime? How do they have civil rights? Aren’t those reserved for CITIZENS?
Report Post »teamarcheson
Posted on June 24, 2011 at 11:46amBut illegals do not have any Civil Claims they are just visiting illegally. Do tourists have “civil claims?” Job discrimination will be Holder’s greatest triumph even though illegal aliens legally cannot work. Can illegal alien kids pray in school?
I am now using 5 bags of tea in every cup I now drink. Can you taste the TEA yet?
Report Post »