When adapting to life in Florida after emigrating from another country, it’s always helpful to have a strong support network in place. Immigrants often encounter various challenges regarding language barriers or cultural issues. Some also face legal problems associated with their statuses. If an immigrant is denied U.S. immigration law support, not only might it exacerbate the problem at hand, but it may also be a personal rights violation.
A group of immigrant advocates have filed a lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security as well as several other parties. As plaintiffs, they are claiming that several immigrant detention facilities have prevented detainees from accessing legal support. The three detention centers in question are all located in separate states.
Some immigrants get detained, but are later released when the government determines that claims they’ve made merit permission to remain in the United States. Others may still have to navigate the deportation process but are able to remain free from detainment while awaiting their hearings. Most immigrants who are able to secure such positive outcomes do so by acting alongside experienced legal representation.
It’s safe to assume that if a particular person were to be denied access to legal support, it may have a negative effect on the ultimate outcome of his or her situation. The recently filed lawsuit asserts that the Department of Homeland Security intentionally chooses private detention facilities located in remote areas to make it difficult for detainees to connect with legal representatives and other advocates who may be able to help obtain their releases. Florida immigrants facing legal status problems or worrying about possible deportation can reach out for support from nearby U.S. immigration law attorneys.
Source: The Seattle Times, “Lawsuit: Immigration detainees have inadequate lawyer access“, Kate Brumback, April 4, 2018
