By Louis Chan, AsAmNews National Correspondent
Up to 2,000 Cambodian refugees for now won’t have to live in fear that an officer with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement is hiding in the bushes, waiting to arrest them for deportation.
Judge Cormac Carney from the US District Court in the Central District of California granted a temporary restraining order requiring 14 days notice before ICE can detain a Cambodian with a deportation order.
Advancing Justice-Asian Law Caucus filed the case with Asian Americans Advancing Justice, Los Angeles and Sidley Austin LLP
The judge temporarily blocked ICE’s practice of rounding up Cambodian refugees without notice.
LATEST STORIES
“The judge has stopped ICE’s practice of ambushing Cambodian refugees who have supported their families and contributed to their communities for years,” Jenny Zhao, an attorney for the Asian Law Caucus, said to AsAmNews. “Now people will have at least some opportunity to talk to a lawyer and make child care plans before being re-detained. This is not just a legal issue, but a matter of basic decency.”
The Temporary Restraining Order remains in place only until January 28. A hearing must still be held to determine what happens after that.
“We are happy the court has temporarily stopped ICE from tearing apart Cambodian families. But this is just the beginning,” said Minju Cho, Skadden Fellow/Staff Attorney at Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Los Angeles to AsAmNews. “We will keep fighting until all Cambodian community members are safe from unconstitutional detention and deportation.”
Those impacted are those who have already served their time for crimes committed, but now live under the threat of deportation under a crackdown pushed by the Trump administration.
Those who think they may be impacted by the decision can find more information in this tweet from Asian Law Caucus.
Yesterday a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order preventing ICE from redetaining most Cambodian refugees with final deportation orders w/o first providing notice.
— Asian Law Caucus (@aaaj_alc) January 4, 2019
Read our community advisory w/ @AAAJ_LA to learn what the TRO means for you: https://t.co/tHEmF85PHx pic.twitter.com/zAYhpNM4T4
AsAmNews has Asian America in its heart. We’re an all-volunteer effort of dedicated staff and interns. Check out our Twitter feed and Facebook page for more content. Please consider interning, joining our staff or submitting a story.
