Federal judge to consider whether to halt deportation of Iraqi nationals

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By Rebecca Savransky –
Federal judge to consider whether to halt deportation of Iraqi nationals
A federal judge on Monday will consider whether to impose a temporary halt on deportations of Iraqi nationals.
Judge Mark Goldsmith, a federal judge in Detroit, is expected to hold a hearing Monday on the issue, according to the Associated Press.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is looking to add to its case beyond the 114 people signed on in the Detroit area.

The hearing comes after a judge in Michigan earlier this month blocked the deportation of more than 100 Iraqi Christians.

The ACLU filed for a restraining order, which the judge granted. The 114 Christians, most of whom are from the Chaldean sect, say they risk death if they are forced to return to Iraq.
“The court took a life-saving action by blocking our clients from being immediately sent back to Iraq,” the ACLU said in a statement at the time.

“They should have a chance to show that their lives are in jeopardy if forced to return.”

According to the ACLU, many of the 114 Iraqis have been living in the U.S. for decades. They were arrested in recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids in the greater Detroit area as President Trump’s administration cracks down on those in the country illegally.

http://thehill.com/homenews/news/339414-federal-judge-to-consider-monday-whether-to-halt-deportation-of-iraqi-nationals