Gallery: Hundreds protest against recent ICE raids of primarily Chaldean immigrants- June 16, 2017
By Dana Afana
dafana@mlive.com
Several Chaldean community and evangelical figures are urging the federal government to extend a stay of execution on the planned deportation of more than 100 immigrants from Iraq.
A temporary stay ordered by U.S. District Judge Mark Goldsmith early this month keeps the detainees in the U.S. until July 10.
In early June, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrested 114 Iraqi nationals in Metro Detroit. The American Civil Liberties Union filed a class-action lawsuit to halt what the group called “death deportations,” arguing Christian Iraqi nationals were
Updated on July 7, 2017 at 10:21 AM Posted on July 6, 2017 at 5:15 PM
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Gallery: Hundreds protest against recent ICE raids of primarily Chaldean immigrants- June 16, 2017
By Dana Afana
dafana@mlive.com
Several Chaldean community and evangelical figures are urging the federal government to extend a stay of execution on the planned deportation of more than 100 immigrants from Iraq.
A temporary stay ordered by U.S. District Judge Mark Goldsmith early this month keeps the detainees in the U.S. until July 10.
In early June, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrested 114 Iraqi nationals in Metro Detroit. The American Civil Liberties Union filed a class-action lawsuit to halt what the group called “death deportations,” arguing Christian Iraqi nationals were
likely to be targeted by extremist groups like ISIS if sent back.
Arrests and deportations out of Detroit’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement office have spiked since President Donald Trump took office, and ICE agents tripled the number of immigrants with no criminal convictions taken into custody between Jan. 20 and April 29, compared to the same period last year.
Goldsmith issued the temporary stay to allow time for him to explore whether the federal district court has jurisdiction over the matter. Government attorneys argued that the fate of the detainees should only be decided by immigration judges.
“This is not like sending Canadians back to Canada,” said Martin Manna, president of Chaldean Community Foundation on Thursday. “There is no homeland for the Christians in Iraq because of the ongoing persecution.
“Almost all of the people they picked up have contributed to the economy. We contribute almost 11 billion annually in the state of Michigan.”
The American Civil Liberties Union filed a class-action lawsuit Thursday seeking to halt the deportation of dozens of Iraqi immigrants arrested by federal agents in Metro Detroit over the weekend.
In the last decade, the U.S. resettled 142,108 Iraqi refugees and 47,294 were Christian, according to Matthew Soerens, church mobilization director for World Relief.
“It’s important they fully complete their criminal sentences,” Soerens said of the Iraqis facing deportation.
“We’re not dismissing the seriousness of some of the criminal charges filed against some of these individuals.”
Nearly all of the 114 detained Metro Detroit immigrants had past criminal convictions and subsequent deportation orders. But they were allowed to stay in the U.S. under ICE supervision for years after their removal orders because of the threat they could face in Iraq.
John Sandweg, a former acting director of ICE, joined Manna and Soerens on a conference call with reporters Friday.
He said removal is appropriate if a detainee is determined to pose a threat to public safety.
But there’s reason for pause, Sandweg said, when it comes to people with no ties to Iraq, who have lived in the U.S. most of their lives and are at risk of persecution.
During his time with ICE and the Department of Homeland Security, agents were “clear that criminal aliens were a top priority,” Sandweg said.
“We didn’t have to deal with the Iraqi issue for a variety of reasons because Iraq wasn’t accepting anyone back in their country at the time,” he said.
“This population poses no public safety threat. The use of discretion in this case is more than appropriate.”
A group of several evangelical organizations sent a letter in June to Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly, seeking protection for detained Iraqi Christians.
“Our top concern would be those whose lives are in danger,” said Galen Carey, vice president of government relations for the National Association of Evangelicals.
He said that while the groups are asking the government to use discretion and reconsider the removal plans, they “support the rule of law and crimes should be punished accordingly.”
Hundreds protest against recent ICE raids of primarily Chaldean immigrants- June 16, 2017
Updated June 17, 2017
Posted June 17, 2017
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Hundreds protest against recent ICE raids of primarily Chaldean immigrants- June 16, 2017
Eight-year-old Khloe Marogi’s father Dorid, who has lived in the U.S. since he was 2-years-old and is now 50, was detained during the recent ICE raids of primarily Chaldean immigrants. The Marogi family joined hundreds others outside the Patrick V. McNamara Federal Building Friday in Downtown Detroit to protest the recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids in which 114 Iraqi nationals in Metro Detroit were detained and are facing deportation, June 16, 2017. (Tanya Moutzalias | MLive Detroit)
Hundreds protest against recent ICE raids of primarily Chaldean immigrants- June 16, 2017
Victoria Rasho, of Shelby, holds an image of her now 2-year-old granddaughter Adrina. Rasho’s son and Adrina’s father, 42-year-old Paul Rasho, who has lived in the U.S. since he was 1, was detained during the recent ICE raids of primarily Chaldean immigrants. Victoria Rasho said her son’s wife is also 6-months pregnant with their second child. Rasho joined hundreds others outside the Patrick V. McNamara Federal Building Friday in Downtown Detroit to protest the recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids in which 114 Iraqi nationals in Metro Detroit were detained and are facing deportation, June 16, 2017. (Tanya Moutzalias | MLive Detroit)
Hundreds protest against recent ICE raids of primarily Chaldean immigrants- June 16, 2017
Hundreds gather outside the Patrick V. McNamara Federal Building Friday in Downtown Detroit to protest the recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids in which 114 Iraqi nationals, primarily Chaldean immigrants, in Metro Detroit were detained and are facing deportation, June 16, 2017. (Tanya Moutzalias | MLive Detroit)
Hundreds protest against recent ICE raids of primarily Chaldean immigrants- June 16, 2017
(right) Eleven-year-old Lindsey Hamama, of West Bloomfield, cries as her mother (left)Nahrain speaks to the crowd about her father Usima ‘Sam’ Hamama who was detained during the ICE recent raids of primarily Chaldean immigrants. Hundreds others gathered outside the Patrick V. McNamara Federal Building Friday in Downtown Detroit to protest the recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids in which 114 Iraqi nationals in Metro Detroit were detained and are facing deportation, June 16, 2017. (Tanya Moutzalias | MLive Detroit)
Hundreds protest against recent ICE raids of primarily Chaldean immigrants- June 16, 2017
University of Michigan student and twenty-year-old Britanny Hamama, of West Bloomfield, speaks to the crowd about her father Usima ‘Sam’ Hamama who was detained during the ICE recent raids of primarily Chaldean immigrants. Hundreds others gathered outside the Patrick V. McNamara Federal Building Friday in Downtown Detroit to protest the recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids in which 114 Iraqi nationals in Metro Detroit were detained and are facing deportation, June 16, 2017. (Tanya Moutzalias | MLive Detroit)
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Tanya Moutzalias
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Hundreds protest against recent ICE raids of primarily Chaldean immigrants- June 16, 2017
(center) Nidal Zawaideh, of Bloomfield Hills, alongside hundreds others gather outside the Patrick V. McNamara Federal Building Friday in Downtown Detroit to protest the recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids in which 114 Iraqi nationals, primarily Chaldean immigrants, in Metro Detroit were detained and are facing deportation, June 16, 2017. (Tanya Moutzalias | MLive Detroit)
Hundreds protest against recent ICE raids of primarily Chaldean immigrants- June 16, 2017
Amal Hana, of Warren, said a family member, who has lived in the U.S. for 25 years as of today, was detained during the recent ICE raids of primarily Chaldean immigrants. Hana joined hundreds others outside the Patrick V. McNamara Federal Building Friday in Downtown Detroit to protest the recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids in which 114 Iraqi nationals in Metro Detroit were detained and are facing deportation, June 16, 2017. (Tanya Moutzalias | MLive Detroit)
Hundreds protest against recent ICE raids of primarily Chaldean immigrants- June 16, 2017
Yousif Abdelmassih, of Sterling Heights, said his brother 29-year-old Andyan Abdelmassih, who has lived in the U.S. since he was 14, was detained during the recent ICE raids of primarily Chaldean immigrants. Abdelmassih joined hundreds others outside the Patrick V. McNamara Federal Building Friday in Downtown Detroit to protest the recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids in which 114 Iraqi nationals in Metro Detroit were detained and are facing deportation, June 16, 2017. (Tanya Moutzalias | MLive Detroit)
Hundreds protest against recent ICE raids of primarily Chaldean immigrants- June 16, 2017
Ronya Khanji, of Farmington, said her uncle 50-year-old Dorid, who has lived in the U.S. since he was 2-years-old, was detained during the recent raids of primarily Chaldean immigrants. Khanji joined hundreds others outside the Patrick V. McNamara Federal Building Friday in Downtown Detroit to protest the recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids in which 114 Iraqi nationals in Metro Detroit were detained and are facing deportation, June 16, 2017. (Tanya Moutzalias | MLive Detroit)
Hundreds protest against recent ICE raids of primarily Chaldean immigrants- June 16, 2017
Ramzie Babbie, of Sterling Heights, said his 40-year-old cousin who has lived in the U.S. since he was 3 years old was detained during the recent ICE raids of primarily Chaldean immigrants. Babbie joined hundreds others outside the Patrick V. McNamara Federal Building Friday in Downtown Detroit to protest the recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids in which 114 Iraqi nationals in Metro Detroit were detained and are facing deportation, June 16, 2017. (Tanya Moutzalias | MLive Detroit)
Hundreds protest against recent ICE raids of primarily Chaldean immigrants- June 16, 2017
Sabria Pasha, of Sterling Heights, said her son 42-year-old Tony Hromez, who has lived in the U.S. since he was 3-years-old and has two young children, was detained during the recent ICE raids of primarily Chaldean immigrants. Pasha joined hundreds others outside the Patrick V. McNamara Federal Building Friday in Downtown Detroit to protest the recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids in which 114 Iraqi nationals in Metro Detroit were detained and are facing deportation, June 16, 2017. (Tanya Moutzalias | MLive Detroit)
Hundreds protest against recent ICE raids of primarily Chaldean immigrants- June 16, 2017
Hundreds gather outside the Patrick V. McNamara Federal Building Friday in Downtown Detroit to protest the recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids in which 114 Iraqi nationals, primarily Chaldean immigrants, in Metro Detroit were detained and are facing deportation, June 16, 2017. (Tanya Moutzalias | MLive Detroit)
Hundreds protest against recent ICE raids of primarily Chaldean immigrants- June 16, 2017
Congresswomen Brenda Lawrence and former Congressman Sandy Levin address hundreds gathered outside the Patrick V. McNamara Federal Building Friday in Downtown Detroit to protest the recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids in which 114 Iraqi nationals, primarily Chaldean immigrants, in Metro Detroit were detained and are facing deportation, June 16, 2017. (Tanya Moutzalias | MLive Detroit)
Hundreds protest against recent ICE raids of primarily Chaldean immigrants- June 16, 2017
(left) Nine-year-old Eliza Herz and her mother, both Jewish, joined in support of hundreds others outside the Patrick V. McNamara Federal Building Friday in Downtown Detroit to protest the recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids in which 114 Iraqi nationals, primarily Chaldean immigrants, in Metro Detroit were detained and are facing deportation, June 16, 2017. (Tanya Moutzalias | MLive Detroit)
Hundreds protest against recent ICE raids of primarily Chaldean immigrants- June 16, 2017
A prayer opens the rally where hundreds gathered outside the Patrick V. McNamara Federal Building Friday in Downtown Detroit to protest the recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids in which 114 Iraqi nationals, primarily Chaldean immigrants, in Metro Detroit were detained and are facing deportation, June 16, 2017. (Tanya Moutzalias | MLive Detroit)
Hundreds protest against recent ICE raids of primarily Chaldean immigrants- June 16, 2017
Hundreds gather outside the Patrick V. McNamara Federal Building Friday in Downtown Detroit to protest the recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids in which 114 Iraqi nationals, primarily Chaldean immigrants, in Metro Detroit were detained and are facing deportation, June 16, 2017. (Tanya Moutzalias | MLive Detroit)
Hundreds protest against recent ICE raids of primarily Chaldean immigrants- June 16, 2017
(right) Sabria Pasha, of Sterling Heights, said her son 42-year-old Tony Hromez, who has lived in the U.S. since he was 3-years-old and has two young children, was detained during the recent ICE raids of primarily Chaldean immigrants. Pasha joined hundreds others outside the Patrick V. McNamara Federal Building Friday in Downtown Detroit to protest the recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids in which 114 Iraqi nationals in Metro Detroit were detained and are facing deportation, June 16, 2017. (Tanya Moutzalias | MLive Detroit)
Hundreds protest against recent ICE raids of primarily Chaldean immigrants- June 16, 2017
Former Congressman Sandy Levin addresses hundreds gathered outside the Patrick V. McNamara Federal Building Friday in Downtown Detroit to protest the recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids in which 114 Iraqi nationals, primarily Chaldean immigrants, in Metro Detroit were detained and are facing deportation, June 16, 2017. (Tanya Moutzalias | MLive Detroit)
Hundreds protest against recent ICE raids of primarily Chaldean immigrants- June 16, 2017
Hundreds gather outside the Patrick V. McNamara Federal Building Friday in Downtown Detroit to protest the recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids in which 114 Iraqi nationals, primarily Chaldean immigrants, in Metro Detroit were detained and are facing deportation, June 16, 2017. (Tanya Moutzalias | MLive Detroit)
Hundreds protest against recent ICE raids of primarily Chaldean immigrants- June 16, 2017
Hundreds gather outside the Patrick V. McNamara Federal Building Friday in Downtown Detroit to protest the recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids in which 114 Iraqi nationals, primarily Chaldean immigrants, in Metro Detroit were detained and are facing deportation, June 16, 2017. (Tanya Moutzalias | MLive Detroit)
