Padilla V. ICE

This is a letter that was written to Mr. Holubec from the American Immigration Council

"Robert,

We write with good news about Padilla v. ICE, our case with the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project and the ACLU seeking prompt bond hearings for certain detained asylum seekers in the expedited removal process.

In April, the Attorney General issued a ruling in the Matter of M-S-, eliminating all bond hearings from asylum seekers in expedited removal. This would have left thousands of vulnerable immigrants locked up for months or years while they seek protection from persecution.

Today, the district court blocked that ruling from taking effect by issuing an order in

Padilla, finding that eliminating these bond hearings likely violated due process. The court ordered the government to giver certain detained asylum seekers a bond hearing within seven days of their request and-importantly-shifted the burden to the government to justify continued detention.

The court's decision is a critical step in our fight to ensure that asylum seekers are free from arbitrary detention. Please read and share the decision and more details about Padilla V. ICE, available here. "