US Federal Judge Gives 1,400 Iraqis Time to Fight Deportation Orders

A US Federal judge in Michigan has given 1,400 Iraqis set to be deported from the United States extra time in which to “seek their day in court.” Through their ACLU attorneys, the Iraqis had argued that they would be subject to persecution in their home country if forced to return because they are considered to be ethnic and religious minorities. Judge Mark Goldsmith wrote in his opinion that he wanted to assure that, “those who might be subjected to grave harm and possible death are not cast out of this country before having their day in court.” Many of those targeted for deportation have had dormant deportation orders that were recently re-activated by the American authorities. According to the government, many also have criminal records with convictions for crimes as serious as murder and drug dealing.