Immigration Deportation, Detention Costs & Abuses

Mar 20, 2016 News

By Attorney Gail S. Seeram

During the period of October 2014 to September 2015, Immigration and Custom Enforcement in the United States deported or removed 369,221 legal and illegal immigrants from the United States. This number represents a decline from previous years. Prior years deportations are as follows: 2010 there were 392,862 removals, in 2011 there were 396,906 removals, in 2012 there were 409,849 removals, and in 2013 there were 368,644 removals.
Many individuals who are detained in immigration detention facilities do not know their rights and are often misinformed by immigration officers and facility workers. Whether you are a U.S. citizen, permanent resident or undocumented immigrant, you have the right to be treated with humanity, respect and dignity while in detention. Detainees do not forgo their human rights while in detention.
OVERVIEW OF IMMIGRATION DETENTION
Immigration detention in the United States has reached crisis proportions. Over the last 15 years, the detention system more than quintupled in size, growing from less than 6,300 beds in 1996 to the current capacity of 33,400 beds. Among those locked up for months or years are survivors of torture, asylum seekers, victims of trafficking, families with small children, the elderly, individuals with serious medical and mental health conditions, and lawful permanent residents with longstanding family and community ties who are facing deportation because of old or minor crimes.
Scores of immigrants are detained without basic due process. Immigration detainees have no right to a lawyer, and an estimated 84% of detainees do not have attorneys. Nor are immigration detainees guaranteed a prompt bond hearing to determine whether their detention is even justified in the first place. In some cases, immigrants convicted of minor crimes are subjected to mandatory detention during their immigration cases and categorically denied bond. The sad result is that thousands of immigrants are needlessly incarcerated, often for months or even years, without ever getting a day in court to determine whether they should even be detained in the first place.
MY RIGHTS WHILE IN DETENTION
An immigrant has the right to be represented by an attorney, but will have to pay legal fees. There are three basic rights I advise my clients to exercise if ever place in immigration detention: (1) Request to see an immigration judge; (2) Do not sign or Refuse to sign any documents (officers try to have you sign documents for expedited removal/deportation and you never see an immigration judge); and (3) Retain an immigration attorney to defend your removal/deportation case.
For more information about detention, removal and re-entry to the U.S., contact Gail Law Firm:
Email: Gail@GailLaw.com
Phone: 1-877-GAIL-LAW or 407-292-7730
www.MyOrlandoImmigrationLawyer.com
FREE in-office consultation – FREE Live Chat

Discover more from Kaieteur News

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Latest News