ACLU Comment on TPS Redesignation for Haiti

At issue is the Trump administration’s sudden and unexplained termination of a contract guaranteeing legal services SAN DIEGO — The American Civil Liberties Union is asking a federal court to enforce provisions of a settlement agreement stemming from its family separation lawsuit. At issue is the Trump administration’s sudden and unexplained termination of a contract guaranteeing legal services to clients covered in the 2023 agreement. According to the ACLU motion filed today, the Trump administration abruptly notified the Acacia Center for Justice, the main contractor that oversees the legal services program serving those clients, that it does not intend to renew its contract. The administration has not explained why the contract is being terminated, nor has it provided any details about an alternative program that would meet the government’s obligations under the agreement. That contract is set to expire on April 30. ACLU attorney Lee Gelernt, lead counsel in the family separation lawsuit, said: “Babies were horrifically ripped from their parents’ arms under the first Trump administration’s family separation policy. Depriving these families of vital services needed to remedy these tragic events is just the latest cruelty inflicted upon the families. We will keep fighting for these parents and children.” The filing is online here.  

BURLINGTON, Vt. – In federal court today, Judge Geoffrey W. Crawford heard arguments from the legal team representing Mohsen Mahdawi, a Columbia University student and Vermont resident who was arrested at his naturalization interview in retaliation for his advocacy for Palestinian rights. Arguments centered on whether or not the court has jurisdiction over Mr. Mahdawi’s habeas petition filed on April 14. Judge Crawford requested supplemental briefings on the merits of the habeas petition and release on bail early next week. Oral arguments are scheduled for Wednesday, April 30 at 9 a.m. ET. “I don’t want people to lose hope,” said Mohsen Mahdawi. “Stay positive and believe in the inevitability of justice. This hearing is part of the system of democracy; it prevents a tyrant from having unchecked power. I am in prison, but I am not imprisoned. A system of democracy guarantees freedom of speech, speaking of Palestine does not only qualify as freedom of speech, but it is also about our humanity. Keep the hope alive; I will see you under the sun.” Mr. Mahdawi is a lawful permanent resident of the United States who has lived in Vermont for 10 years and is set to graduate from Columbia University in May. ICE detained him after his long-awaited naturalization interview on April 14. After apprehending him, ICE attempted to put him on a plane to Louisiana, but a temporary restraining order issued by Judge William K. Sessions III compelled the government to keep Mr. Mahdawi in Vermont. Today, Judge Crawford extended that restraining order by 90 days. Mr. Mahdawi’s habeas petition argues that his detention violates his constitutional rights, including free speech and due process, and goes beyond the government’s legal authority. Copies of the legal documents filed in this case are available here. Mr. Mahdawi is represented by Cyrus Mehta and David Isaacson of Cyrus D. Mehta Partners, PLLC; Luna Droubi of Beldock Levine & Hoffman LLP; Andrew Delaney of Martin Delaney & Ricci Law Group; CLEAR; the American Civil Liberties Union; and the ACLU of Vermont. The following are quotes from Mr. Mahdawi’s legal team: “What you are seeing with Mohsen and all of the other students who have been taken because of their advocacy of Palestinian rights is unprecedented,” said Cyrus Mehta of Cyrus D. Mehta Partners, PLLC. “The Trump Administration is hellbent on detaining these students and treating them like criminals simply for exercising their First Amendment right to freedom of speech. We will continue to fight for Mohsen to be rightfully returned to his community in Vermont.” “Today, we once again saw that the government has no basis, whatsoever, for Mohsen Mahdawi’s detention other than their own admission that they detained Mohsen on the basis of his speech,” said Luna Droubi of Beldock Levine & Hoffman LLP. “Their claims and actions are baseless, without evidence, and are a disgrace to the US constitution. We plan to return to Vermont next week to argue in court and free Mohsen.” “Mohsen was taking steps to become a citizen when he was detained in retaliation for his political speech,” said Nathan Freed Wessler, deputy director of the ACLU’s Speech, Privacy, and Technology Project. “The growing list of people who have been punished for their beliefs should frighten everyone in the country, citizen or not, and we are pleased that the court recognized the urgency of this case and scheduled a merits hearing in a week. We will work hard to ensure Mohsen is released and that nobody else has to fear detention for exercising their rights under the First Amendment.” “Mohsen is a valued member of his community here in Vermont. His friends and neighbors—and people across the country—are right to be deeply concerned by the government’s retaliation against his constitutionally protected speech” said Hillary Rich, senior staff attorney at the ACLU of Vermont. “Mohsen has committed no crime, and the government’s only supposed justification for holding him in prison is the content of his speech. We are proud to join his legal team and will not stop fighting for Mohsen’s freedom.” “The government continues to engage in the same delay tactics it has in other matters,” said Naz Ahmad, co-director of CLEAR at the City University of New York. “Mohsen should not spend a single second longer in detention when it is obvious that he is being targeted for his speech supportive of Palestinians. The court rightly recognizes the need for urgency."

Immigrants’ rights advocates sued the Trump administration over the president’s recent proclamation aimed at completely shutting down asylum at the border, a move that puts thousands of lives at risk.

When Jeannie Parent and her volunteer group, KWESI, visit immigrants held in a California detention center, she’s inspired by the sense of connection and community she can foster in spite of the circumstances.