Archive: Detention

Secret Arrests

ACLU of New Jersey v. County of Hudson
ACLU request asking a state appeals court to stop the federal government from preventing detainees from leaving the country after their immigration cases have been resolved.

-- Legal Documents --

• Partial list of Legal Documents and Press Releases
• Letter-brief (April 26, 2002)
• Complaint in Lieu of Prerogative Writs (January 22, 2002)

  -- Press Releases --

• INS to Allow Deportations from NJ Jails (April 26, 2002)

Secret Deportation Hearings

General Legal Documents

• Memorandum from Chief Immigration Judge Michael Creppy (August 21, 2001)

  Detroit Free Press v. Ashcroft
  The ACLU filed a lawsuit on behalf of two local newspapers and Rep. John Conyers, D-MI to remove the Justice Department's block on public access to immigration hearings.

  -- Legal Documents --

• Sixth Circuit's Decision (August 26, 2002)
• Complaint
• Declaration of Rep. John Conyers
• Declaration of Ashraf Nubani

  -- Press Releases --

• Rejecting Government Secrecy, Court Orders Open Immigration Hearings in Post-Sept. 11 Challenge (04/04/2002)
• ACLU Files First Post-Sept. 11 Challenge To Closed Immigration Hearings on Behalf of MI Congressman and Journalists ( January 29, 2002)

  North Jersey Media Group, Inc. v. Ashcroft
  The ACLU filed a lawsuit on behalf of two New Jersey media organizations to remove the Justice Department's block on public access to immigration hearings.

  -- Legal Documents --

• As Supreme Court Rejects Review of Access to 9/11 Immigration Hearings, ACLU Sees Hopeful Signs of Changed Policy (05/27/2003)
• ACLU Reply Brief, May 5, 2003
• DOJ Opposition to Cert, April 25, 2003
• ACLU Petition for Cert (March 3, 2003)
• Petition for Rehearing in North Jersey Media Group v. Ashcroft (November 22, 2002)
• Third Circuit's Decision (October 8, 2002)
• ACLU's Legal Brief in the Third Circuit (July 15, 2002)

  -- Press Releases --

• Newspapers Ask High Court to Resolve Conflict Over Access to Secret Immigration Hearings (March 3, 2003)
• ACLU Asks Appeals Court to Reconsider Ruling Upholding Closed Hearings in Sept. 11 Immigration Cases (November 22, 2002)
• Appeals Court Hears Arguments Today in Second ACLU Challenge to Secret Immigration Hearings (September 17, 2002)
• A Second Federal Court Rejects Government Secrecy, Orders Open Immigration Hearings in Post-Sept. 11 Challenge (May 29, 2002)
• ACLU Files Second Challenge to Closed Immigration Hearings on Behalf of NJ Newspapers Seeking Access (March 4, 2002)

Material Witness Detentions

Abdallah Higazy
Abdallah Higazy was detained in New York as a material witness; the NYCLU requested that a district court make his police report public.

-- Legal Documents --

• A letter brief in the matter of Abdallah Higazy (November 15, 2002)

  Mike Hawash
  The American Civil Liberties Union of Oregon criticized the U.S. Justice Department's use of the material witness statute to detain Maher "Mike" Hawash, a U.S. citizen.

  -- Press Releases --

• ACLU Says Detention of U.S. Citizen in Oregon Highlights Unnecessary Government Secrecy (April 8, 2003)
• ACLU of Oregon Criticizes Use of Material Witness Law to Detain U.S. Citizen (April 3, 2003)