One can only imagine how difficult life can be for those living in the United States without all their immigration paperwork in order. Many immigrants in Florida and around the countgry are currently facing legal problems regarding U.S. immigration law and criminal charges filed against them. These immigrants have reportedly been barred from appearing in court.
Some say federal authorities have prohibited undocumented immigrants facing criminal charges from appearing in court because allowing them to do so would possibly impede the government’s ability to deport them. Many people advocating for immigrants’ rights have spoken out against this practice, saying it violates due process laws. Advocates say these immigrants are being targeted by the government even though they have not been convicted of any crimes. Anyone charged with a crime in the United States is guaranteed the right to an attorney to defend themselves in court.
The situation has placed local prosecutors and other officials in opposition to federal administrators. It’s easy to understand how stressful it might be for someone to be accused of a crime, yet unable to present a defense in court because federal regulations are impeding due process. In the past, the government generally only targeted immigrants for deportation if they had already been convicted of crimes.
Florida residents trying to deal with U.S. immigration law problems may fare best if they reach out for experienced legal support. There are attorneys with practices that focus on immigration issues that intersect criminal law problems. This type of support would be a great asset for any immigrant being denied his or her day in court.
Source: The Sacramento Bee, “Legal limbo: US denies immigrant suspects their day in court”, Alanna Durkin Richer, May 10, 2018