Los Angeles County sheriff's office sued over immigration holds

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

http://news.yahoo.com/los-angeles-county-sheriffs-office-sued-over-immigration-223347738.html

By Mary Slosson | Reuters – 1 hr 13 mins ago

(Reuters) - Rights groups filed a class-action lawsuit on Friday against the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, accusing it of unlawfully detaining illegal immigrants at the behest of the federal government for days beyond when they should have been released.

The suit highlights the detention of a British filmmaker and legal immigrant, Duncan Roy, who spent 89 days in jail because of an erroneous federal immigration hold that left him unable to post bail, according to the American Civil Liberties Union.

The lawsuit is the latest effort by rights groups to turn California into a so-called sanctuary state that protects unauthorized immigrants. That is in stark contrast to states such as Arizona that are engaged in crackdowns on illegal immigration which have sparked fears of racial profiling.

An immigration hold is a request by the federal government that they would like someone to remain in custody so they can seek deportation.

"This massive unconstitutional detention is a symptom of the criminalization of illegal immigrants, a dangerous trend that must be reversed," Jessica Karp, an attorney for the National Day Laborer Organizing Network that was one of the groups involved in the suit, said in a statement.

In Roy's case, he was initially arrested on a misdemeanor extortion charge stemming from a falling-out with his ex-boyfriend, which resulted in a much longer stay behind bars than other people charged with similar crimes.

He said his extended jail stay could have exacerbated his prostate and colon cancer and seeks damages for his treatment.

Three Mexican immigrants and an Estonian who say they were unlawfully held were also party to the class action suit, filed on behalf of all current and future detainees held in a county jail for more than 48 hours solely for immigration holds.

Of the Los Angeles County jail population, around 14 percent - or roughly 2,100 people on any given day - are subject to Immigration and Customs Enforcement holds, according to the ACLU of Southern California, which was also involved in the lawsuit.

Those individuals are held in jail nearly three weeks longer than those without such holds, the group said.

A spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, Nicole Nishida, said the department was following federal law, and acting on behalf of federal immigration authorities.

A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokeswoman said in a statement that the agency's cooperation with local law enforcement on immigration holds ensures that "potentially dangerous criminals are not released from prisons and jails into our communities".

Much of the rights groups' unease stems from an information-sharing program called Secure Communities, in which federal immigration officials and local law enforcement work together to deport illegal immigrants arrested for crimes.

The program, launched in 2008, helped the federal government deport a record of about 400,000 illegal immigrants last year.

Friday's legal action followed a failed effort by immigration rights advocates to pass a bill that would have shielded some illegal immigrants from federal status checks.

That bill would have prohibited local authorities from honoring federal immigration detention requests statewide unless the individuals involved were charged or convicted of a serious or violent felony.

California Governor Jerry Brown vetoed that bill in late September. The author of the legislation, Democratic Assembly member Tom Ammiano, has said he would revise and reintroduce the bill in the next legislative session, which begins in January.

Earlier this month, Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck said he wanted to institute a plan that would shield illegal immigrants arrested for low-level offenses from potential deportation by January 1. The county has no plans for a similar program.

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

One more reason why the US needs to dump California and build a giant wall around it.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

One more reason why the US needs to dump California and build a giant wall around it.

I just wish it'd fall off into the Ocean where I can buy beach front property in Arizona!

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

I just wish it'd fall off into the Ocean where I can buy beach front property in Arizona!

That state is too ignorant for it's own good. It has the second highest unemployment rate of all the states, the worst credit rating of all the states, their public schools are ranked 47th out of all the states, two of their public school systems including the largest one in the state (LA) went bankrupt and had to be taken over by the state and their one failed tax initiative away from sinking into oblivion not to mention that tax initiative is only a temporary fix yet they want to become a "sanctuary state" for illegals. I mean how stupid does it get? And who in their right mind votes for a $100+ billion dollar high speed rail when your beyond broke? And when your school system totally sucks to the point that students in the colleges are actually rioting over tuition hikes yet that state gives in state tuition to illegals. If that state had any kind of brains it would be dangerous.

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

"""" criminalization of illegal immigrants,""

How in hades do you make something criminal that is already illegal. Liberal Logic defies logic.

Also can you imagine the cost to the local LA government for housing, transporting and all the admin cost to deal with all those illegals. Not to mention the health care costs et etc.

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

That state is too ignorant for it's own good. It has the second highest unemployment rate of all the states, the worst credit rating of all the states, their public schools are ranked 47th out of all the states, two of their public school systems including the largest one in the state (LA) went bankrupt and had to be taken over by the state and their one failed tax initiative away from sinking into oblivion not to mention that tax initiative is only a temporary fix yet they want to become a "sanctuary state" for illegals. I mean how stupid does it get? And who in their right mind votes for a $100+ billion dollar high speed rail when your beyond broke? And when your school system totally sucks to the point that students in the colleges are actually rioting over tuition hikes yet that state gives in state tuition to illegals. If that state had any kind of brains it would be dangerous.

They just need to raise taxes on the rich so all pay their fair share.

[MyLittlePony 340]

Alaska is the first highest unemployment rate they have no jobs.

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

Alaska is the first highest unemployment rate they have no jobs.

That would be Rhode Island with the worst unemployment rate. Alaska is $50 billion dollars to the good while California is $16 billion dollars in the hole and counting. I don't want to hear any whining and sniveling from you are any other Californian's if and when Gov. Moonbeam's tax initiative fails. You have your liberal utopia there so embrace it for all it's worth. Love and nourish your illegals while paying for their school, housing, and medical.

[MyLittlePony 340]

That would be Rhode Island with the worst unemployment rate. Alaska is $50 billion dollars to the good while California is $16 billion dollars in the hole and counting. I don't want to hear any whining and sniveling from you are any other Californian's if and when Gov. Moonbeam's tax initiative fails. You have your liberal utopia there so embrace it for all it's worth. Love and nourish your illegals while paying for their school, housing, and medical.

Jealous once again i rather live in a broke than live in freezing cold worrying about getting frost bite on my #######. All the california bashing is old and stale try to find a new hobbie.

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

Jealous once again i rather live in a broke than live in freezing cold worrying about getting frost bite on my #######. All the california bashing is old and stale try to find a new hobbie.

Cold weather vs broke and hungry? I'l take cold weather thank you very much. Just remember Gov. Moonbeam Brown and the illegals love you and they will keep on loving you when the food lines in California run a mile long.

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

Jealous once again i rather live in a broke than live in freezing cold worrying about getting frost bite on my #######. All the california bashing is old and stale try to find a new hobbie.

BTW don't forget to pay that sales tax, county tax, and state tax because these guys down below need YOUR $$$$$$ to help feed their family of 12.

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

http://www.watersworld.us/sanctuary-cities.html

From the L. A. Times ~

1. 40% of all workers in L. A. County (L. A. County has 10.2 million people) are

working for cash and not paying taxes. This is because they are predominantly

illegal immigrants working without a green card.

2. 95% of warrants for murder in Los Angeles are for illegal aliens.

3. 75% of people on the most wanted list in Los Angeles are illegal aliens.

4. Over 2/3 of all births in Los Angeles County are to illegal alien Mexicans on

Medi-Cal, whose births were paid for by taxpayers.

5. Nearly 35% of all inmates in California detention centers are Mexican nationals

here illegally.

6. Over 300,000 illegal aliens in Los Angeles County are living in garages.

7. The FBI reports half of all gang members in Los Angeles are most likely

illegal aliens from south of the border.

8. Nearly 60% of all occupants of HUD properties are illegal.

9. 21 radio stations in L. A. are Spanish speaking.

10. In L. A. County 5.1 million people speak English. 3.9 million speak Spanish.

(There are 10.2 million people in L. A. County.)

All 10 of the above are from the Los Angeles Times

Less than 2% of illegal aliens are picking our crops, but 29% are on welfare. Over 70% of the United States annual population growth (and over 90% of California, Florida, and New York) results from immigration.

29% of inmates in federal prisons are illegal aliens.

[MyLittlePony 340]

I rather run from illegals than be eaten by polar bears.

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

I rather run from illegals than be eaten by polar bears.

Edited October 20, 2012 by Bad_Daddy

[OnMyWayID 1,489]

Trying to wrap my head around this lawsuit.. They were being held for deportation so the real complaint is that the government did not deport them fast enough? That's the solution right? The government loses the case and is required to deport faster in the future.