Posted on 01/16/2007 12:08:07 AM PST by FLOutdoorsman
Attorneys representing foreign workers jailed in the recent crackdown at meatpacking plants accused immigration officials of violating a federal court order to hold bond hearings within 48 hours for the detainees.
Today the attorneys asked U.S. District Court Judge John Kane for an emergency order to force the government to hold bond hearings for 61 Mayan workers from Guatemala who now are held without bond at a federal facility in El Paso, Texas.
The order was for all of the roughly 260 detainees who have not had a bond hearing to receive one, attorneys said.
A court filing by Jim Salvator, part of a union-led team representing workers, said 28 of the 61 Mayans had first appearances before an immigration judge in Texas. But none have had bond hearings since they were arrested on Dec. 12 at a Swift & Co. plant in Greeley. These workers are illiterate in Spanish and English, speaking a blend of Spanish and Quiche, Salvator said.
"They have virtually no understanding of their rights as persons detained by ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement)."
On Friday, Kane ordered the government to hold bond hearings as part of his oversight of workers' detention by ICE.
The Mayans from Guatemala are "held only on civil immigration charges, not crimes. They are charged only with being undocumented workers," Salvator said.
The court filing asks that the government immediately to hold bond hearings in Texas, release the workers on personal recognizance, or bring them to Colorado for bond hearings here.
Government officials, weren't available for comment.
Kane gave no indication he meant work days when he issued his 48-hour order, Salvator said. "Usually when people are detained, and a judge gives an order, you act on it," he said.
The continuing detention of these workers "keeps them in a pressure-cooker unable to litigate their case." within 48 hours for the detainees.
Wow, they won't even integrate into their own country.
'These workers are illiterate in Spanish and English, speaking a blend of Spanish and Quiche, Salvator said.'
Still good enough for Swift.
"demanded"
It sounds silly coming from a group that shouldn't be here to start with. Too bad they will get what they ask for in this "accomodate everything" country.
They speak Spanish mixed with a French Egg Pie?
L
"release the workers on personal recognizance"
LOL!
But immigration enforcement is a federal issue....;-)
There is no language barrier among dollars.
The Curse of the Hyphenates strikes again---they set themselves apart as a distinct class of hyphenated individuals "not quite" all-American so they can get all kinds of government freebies, perks and privileges the rest are forced to subsidize.
They demand to be treated "like Americans." However, if anyone dares to suggest they adhere to the same laws, rules and regs, the rest of America adheres to, they bring out their jack-booted legal bullies and hyphenated defense groups to lacerate, annihilate and destroy anybody who disagrees.
ping
These Mayans are illiterate in two languages. English and Spanish, They speak Indian tongues
THANK YOU JORGE BUSH!!!
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