Colorado immigration lawyers are utilizing the strategy of filing petitions for writs of habeas corpus to challenge the detentions of noncitizen clients in the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility in Aurora. This legal tactic seeks to bring cases before federal judges for review and potentially halt deportations. The high-profile case of activist Jeanette Vizguerra, detained in March, has brought national attention to the use of habeas corpus petitions in immigration cases. Vizguerra’s lawyers successfully obtained a court order to prevent her deportation.
Recent cases include Emmanuil Manoukian, a “stateless” person held in detention for over seven months, and Dayana Munoz Ramirez, a transgender woman from El Salvador who has been detained for 16 months. Lawyers argue that their prolonged detentions are unconstitutional and violate their rights to due process. The increase in habeas corpus petitions in Colorado reflects a growing trend as the Trump administration intensifies its immigration enforcement efforts.
Attorneys believe that these legal challenges are necessary to ensure that immigrants have access to due process and are not subjected to unlawful detentions. The use of habeas corpus petitions allows cases to be reviewed by federal judges, who can address constitutional issues that immigration judges may not have the authority to decide. The legal strategy is crucial in holding immigration enforcement agencies accountable and protecting the rights of individuals caught in immigration proceedings.
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