Jump in fast-track deportation orders raises alarm among immigrant advocates
Many detainees don't understand their rights, supporters say
By Vanessa Bauzá Chicago Tribune reporter
9:52 PM CDT, August 3, 2008
When Emanuel Franco was arrested two years ago during a federal raid at a Chicago pallet company, he said, an Immigration officer urged him to sign an order to speed up his deportation rather than "waste the judge's time" with a hearing."He's like: 'You have no right to be here. You have two options: get deported now or get deported later,' " Franco, 24, recalled.
Franco refused to sign. He came to the United States illegally as a child 20 years ago, and his lawyer told him they would fight the deportation. A judge put an end to the deportation proceedings after Franco married his fiance, a U.S. citizen. He is now awaiting a green card.Like Franco, Roberto Mazariegos was arrested after living illegally in the United States for years. But he had no access to a lawyer and signed the deportation order.
"It was in English and I didn't understand it," said Mazariegos, 29, who was deported to his native Guatemala in April. He left behind his fiance, who is a legal permanent resident, and their 16-month-old daughter.
Such fast-track deportation orders have increased fivefold since 2004, prompting concerns among immigrant advocates and lawyers that detainees are being rushed out of the country at the expense of their due process.
The federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency said its officers fully explain the orders after interviewing detainees. It also offers interpretation and contact information for free legal services, said agency spokesman Tim Counts."
I want to be very clear this is not something they are pressured to sign," Counts said. "It's done slowly, it's done clearly. We want to make sure the person understands all options and all consequences."
According to the National Immigrant Justice Center, immigrant detainees nationwide signed 31,000 fast-tracked deportation orders—known as "stipulated orders of removal"—last year, up from 5,500 in 2004. About 16 percent of the orders were signed in Chicago, making it the jurisdiction with the second-largest number of stipulated orders, according to the center, which analyzed federal statistics.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-deportation_orderaug04,0,2397644.story
