The ACLU of Colorado wrote a letter in support of parole for two non-U.S. citizens recently detained by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency (“ICE”). The two men are currently being held in detention pending deportation by ICE, even though there is little likelihood that they can be deported elsewhere. Both men were born in countries that, unlike the United States, do not grant citizenship to those who are born on its soil. When their travel documents expired, the two men found themselves in detention without visas, without passports, without citizenship, and without a county willing to take them back. The two men were placed in detention pending deportation, but with nowhere to be deported to.
ACLU of Colorado Staff Attorney Taylor Pendergrass wrote to ICE: “According to the information we have received, neither [man] has any criminal history, and both are employed and productive members of the community. We have also been informed that there is no significant likelihood of removal in the reasonably foreseeable future . . . Taking the above allegations as true, the continued detention . . . would not be justified either to ensure their appearance at future immigration proceedings nor for the purpose of protecting the community. Both of these government interests would appear to be amply protected by parole or release under supervision.”