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LULAC IOWA DEMANDS RESPECT FOR DUE PROCESS Iowa civil rights organization says ICE needs to follow court rulings and provide access to court system for detainees in the state. DES MOINES, Iowa – The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) Iowa condemns the pattern of due-process violations documented in a recent ruling by a federal judge in Iowa. The decision finds that the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have denied bond hearings to two asylum-seekers detained in Iowa county jails despite the long-standing legal rights to hearings. The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa determined that the absence of bond hearings for two individuals – who face ongoing immigration proceedings, have no criminal record, and have established ties in the U.S. – violates statutory and constitutional protections. “We are witnessing the erosion of fundamental rights,” said Joe Henry, Political Director, LULAC Iowa. “When agencies act as though judicial review and individualized hearings don’t matter, our system fails not only those individuals, but all of us who believe in fairness under the law. That’s especially true for people seeking safety and asylum because they’re running from real danger.” A report by The Iowa Capital Dispatch documents two separate cases: one involving a woman detained after seeking asylum who was denied a bond hearing despite living in the U.S. with her family for years and having no criminal history, and another involving an asylum-seeking man whose criminal charge was dropped but was still denied a hearing. LULAC Iowa wants to see our court system safeguard due process rights in immigration detention in Iowa by ensuring the following: Timely bond hearings for all detainees eligible by law, without arbitrary denial by immigration authorities. Release detainees or provide hearings when no criminal charges remain or when individual review shows no threat to public safety. Increase transparency and accountability for ICE and DHS detention policies — including publishing data on denied hearings and detainee treatment. Advocate for oversight by Congress and relevant state bodies to prevent arbitrary detention and to protect civil- and human-rights of immigrants in Iowa. “As a civil-rights organization and long-time advocate for Latino and immigrant communities, LULAC Iowa will continue to monitor this issue closely,” added Henry. “The rights at stake here extend beyond two cases — they reflect whether our legal system honors due process for everyone.
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