U.S. citizens caught up in immigration sweeps

[azurnoir]

Reporting from Tacoma, Wash., and Los Angeles -- Rennison Vern Castillo thought his legal troubles were nearly over at the end of a jail stay for harassing his ex-girlfriend. But then a U.S. immigration hold order blocked his release.

"They think you're here illegally," a jailhouse guard said to him.

He had some legal problems, but being in the country unlawfully was not one of them. Castillo said he wasn't worried -- not until he was shackled and transferred to a federal detention center. He spent months in custody before an appeals panel blocked his deportation and an immigration judge finally ordered Castillo set free.

Officials in Washington said last month that the Obama administration was expected to rein in the controversial workplace raids -- shifting enforcement emphasis to target employers rather than workers. Immigrant advocates have long pushed for such a change, while others say easing workplace enforcement will encourage illegal immigration.

Unlike suspects in criminal matters, however, immigration detainees have no right to government-appointed counsel -- and, in some cases, have no access to paid lawyers. Fast-track deportation procedures enacted by Congress in recent years also limit court review once the expulsion process is underway.

http://www.latimes.com/news/la-na-citizen9-2009apr09,0,7740016.story?track=rss

[truebrit71]

1. Enjoy your future prosperity courtesy of the suit against the US govt bureacracy

...if that were me I would be fucking LIVID!!!!

What a nightmare...

[Pharlo]

2. Jeez, I can remember when

"Born in East LA" was a satire/comedy, not a docucomedy.