ACLU sues over initial hearings for detained immigrants
The American Civil Liberties Union has sued the federal government to limit the amount of time that people can be held before seeing an immigration judge, saying many are held for months while waiting for an initial appearance.
The lawsuit was filed Thursday in federal court on behalf of three Mexicans at a San Diego immigration detention center.
The ACLU asks to represent all people who are held more than 48 hours on immigration violations along California's border with Mexico. An estimated 1,500 people are held on any given day.
The lawsuit comes as President Donald Trump moves to significantly expand border and immigration enforcement, which is likely to further strain jails and courts.
The U.S. Homeland Security Department and Executive Office for Immigration Review declined to comment.