The A-C-L-U of Michigan has filed an emergency motion against federal immigration authorities. They say Iraqi detainees are being threatened and coerced to say they want to go to Iraq.
The Iraqi immigrants face deportation orders for crimes – usually committed years ago. The ACLU says immigration agents have been coercing detainees to sign a document saying they want to return to Iraq.
Miriam Aukerman is an A-C-L-U attorney. She says authorities are telling detainees that if they don’t say they want to go to Iraq, they will face criminal prosecution and be detained indefinitely. Aukerman says that places the detainees under duress, and it’s not fair.
“You can’t make it a crime to say I want to be with my family.”
Aukerman says many of the detainees are Christians who face religious persecution if they return to Iraq. The hearing is scheduled for Monday.