California Assemblywoman Maggy Krell, D-Sacramento, sued the federal government Thursday after she said it has been withholding public information related to the detainment of people who were showing up to their routine immigration court hearings last summer. Krell she filed two separate requests this summer after immigrants, most with legal status, were arrested when they showed up to their immigration hearings. The courthouse at one point was also closed to lawyers, journalists and other members of the public during proceedings. Her requests sought information related to those issues, plus the disclosure of communications between immigration judges, agents and federal attorneys. At a news conference about the lawsuit Thursday, Krell told reporters that while immigration authorities have acknowledged her requests, they have not given her a single record. When asked if the federal government is citing a part of the law or legal justification for the withholding of records, she said no. Krell filed her lawsuit pointing to violations of the Freedom of Information Act in the Eastern District Court of California against the Executive Office for Immigration Review. The 34-page lawsuit notes that for decades, ICE officers mostly refrained from civil immigration enforcement action in immigration courts. “I think this is really important,” Krell said. “We need basic transparency about what the federal government is doing and why. We’re demanding answers.”Krell said once she receives the information, she will be sharing it with other litigants.”It may show people were illegally arrested. Those people have rights. That matters and we want to get to the bottom of this,” Krell said. Krell and other attorneys at Thursday’s press conference said they have not seen or heard of any arrests at the immigration courts since this summer, but said immigrants are still showing up to the building with a lot of fear. They also said immigrants are being pressured under a different strategy with the use of Asylum Cooperative Agreements. “If they are not getting arrested then they are getting these ACAs telling them we will not hear your asylum claim instead we will send you to another country that is not safe. Honduras, Ecuador, Guatemala,” said Kamalpreet Chohan, with the California Immigration Project. KCRA 3 has reached out to the U.S. Department of Justice for comment.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
California Assemblywoman Maggy Krell, D-Sacramento, sued the federal government Thursday after she said it has been withholding public information related to the detainment of people who were showing up to their routine immigration court hearings last summer.
Krell she filed two separate requests this summer after immigrants, most with legal status, were arrested when they showed up to their immigration hearings. The courthouse at one point was also closed to lawyers, journalists and other members of the public during proceedings. Her requests sought information related to those issues, plus the disclosure of communications between immigration judges, agents and federal attorneys.
At a news conference about the lawsuit Thursday, Krell told reporters that while immigration authorities have acknowledged her requests, they have not given her a single record. When asked if the federal government is citing a part of the law or legal justification for the withholding of records, she said no.
Krell filed her lawsuit pointing to violations of the Freedom of Information Act in the Eastern District Court of California against the Executive Office for Immigration Review. The 34-page lawsuit notes that for decades, ICE officers mostly refrained from civil immigration enforcement action in immigration courts.
“I think this is really important,” Krell said. “We need basic transparency about what the federal government is doing and why. We’re demanding answers.”
Krell said once she receives the information, she will be sharing it with other litigants.
“It may show people were illegally arrested. Those people have rights. That matters and we want to get to the bottom of this,” Krell said.
Krell and other attorneys at Thursday’s press conference said they have not seen or heard of any arrests at the immigration courts since this summer, but said immigrants are still showing up to the building with a lot of fear.
They also said immigrants are being pressured under a different strategy with the use of Asylum Cooperative Agreements.
“If they are not getting arrested then they are getting these ACAs telling them we will not hear your asylum claim instead we will send you to another country that is not safe. Honduras, Ecuador, Guatemala,” said Kamalpreet Chohan, with the California Immigration Project.
KCRA 3 has reached out to the U.S. Department of Justice for comment.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel