Federal Judge Stops Deportation of Cambodian Americans

A US District Judge has blocked the deportation of 92 Cambodian refugees, reports the Press-Telegram.

U.S. District Court Judge Cormac Carney ruled the detainees “were denied due process by the government when it detained them and threatened to deport them without adequate notice and an opportunity to be heard.”

They were arrested in October during raids which have been described as the largest raids in the history of the Southeast Asian American community. Most had escaped the Khmer Rouge in the 70’s.

“ICE’s campaign of detention and deportation ignores the reality that Cambodian refugees with deportation orders continue making vital contributions to our communities,” said Jenny Zhao, Immigrant Rights Staff Attorney at Advancing Justice – ALC. “As this decision affirms, the government’s actions here offend our basic desire for justice and the Constitution.”

According to Reuters, three other judges have issued similar rulings blocking the government from quickly deporting immigrants who have lived a long time in the country.

“The court had the same understandable reaction as federal judges in Detroit, Boston and Miami have recently had, pointedly asking why the administration was intent on abruptly removing long term residents without even giving them a chance to show they were entitled to remain here.”

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