A federal judge has issued a stay on the deportation of more than 100 Chaldean and Muslim Iraqi residents in metro Detroit who were detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
- Dozens of Chaldeans, Muslims detained by ICE agents in metro Detroit
- Chaldeans, Muslims detained by ICE in metro Detroit to be deported
- Anti-deportation rally outside federal court for detained Iraqis in metro Detroit
According to a written order from U.S. District Court Judge Mark Goldsmith, the court is unsure whether it has "subject-matter jurisdiction" and issued the stay, which will expire on July 6.
More than 100 Chaldean and Muslim residents were detained by ICE nearly two weeks ago, and ICE said a day later that they would be deported.
"As a result of recent negotiations between the U.S. and Iraq, Iraq has recently agreed to accept a number of Iraqi nationals subject to orders of removal," read the statement. "As part of ICE's efforts to process the backlog of these individuals, the agency recently arrested a number of Iraqi nationals, all of whom had criminal convictions for crimes including homicide, rape, aggravated assault, kidnapping, burglary, drug trafficking, robbery, sex assault, weapons violations and other offenses," ICE said in a statement at the time.
They filed a habeas corpus class action petition.
Most of the people detained were taken to the Northeast Ohio Correction center in Youngstown, Ohio, while they awaited deportation.
They filed the habeas corpus class action petition "seeking, among other relief, an order enjoining the Government from removing them to Iraq without first providing them an opportunity to demonstrate that, in light of changed country conditions, they would face persecution, torture, or death, if removed to Iraq," according to the court.
"In light of these complex jurisdictional issues, and the speed with which the Government is moving to remove Petitioners, it is necessary to stay Petitioners’ removal pending the Court’s determination regarding its jurisdiction," the order states.
According to the judge, the court needs to take proper time before determining whether or not they should be deported.
"Irreparable harm is made out by the significant chance of loss of life and lesser forms of persecution that Petitioners have substantiated," the judge wrote. "Such harm far outweighs any conceivable interest the Government might have in the immediate enforcement of the removal orders, before this Court can clarify whether it has jurisdiction to grant relief to Petitioners on the merits of their claims."
Read the entire order below
Judge issues stay on deportation order for Iraqi citizens in U.S. by WXYZ-TV Channel 7 Detroit on Scribd
