ACLU petitions for immediate release of detained Afghan man
NEWARK, N.J. — Advocates have petitioned for the immediate release of an Afghan man who has been detained for five months since he tried to enter the United States on a special visa for people who helped the U.S. military.
The American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey announced Tuesday night that it had asked the U.S. District Court to immediately release the 25-year-old man or order that he receive a bond hearing to determine whether his detention is justified.
On Friday, an immigration judge ruled that he would not hold a bond hearing and that the deportation case against the man would proceed. The man’s next immigration hearing is set for Sept. 6.
“Our client has been jailed for the past five months in a country that promised to welcome him. It’s an egregious violation of our Constitution,” said ACLU-NJ Deputy Legal Director Jeanne LoCicero. “At the very least, he is entitled to a bond hearing after his prolonged detention. But for his rights to be honoured, the government needs to release him.”