In brief
Chancely Fanfan, a Haitian immigrant, was arrested after attending his immigration court hearing and a subsequent ICE check-in in San Diego. His attorneys, alongside advocacy organizations, are filing a petition against recent detentions that reportedly violate due process principles. The case highlights a disturbing trend where immigrants are detained after check-ins despite having no criminal records, raising serious questions about the current immigration enforcement practices and the potential for class action lawsuits.
SAN DIEGO (AP) — In a troubling turn of events, Chancely Fanfan, a 31-year-old Haitian immigrant, found himself detained by immigration officers after what he believed would be a routine ICE check-in following his court hearing on October 20. Fanfan, who had no prior criminal record and complied with all prior appointments since arriving in the United States last year, was apprehended alongside his wife and infant child, leaving his family in turmoil.The detention sparked a lawsuit filed in the Southern District of California by the Center for Immigration Law and Policy and the Center for Human Rights & Constitutional Law. They are challenging the legality of the September arrests of Fanfan and two other immigrants who were similarly detained after check-ins with ICE.Petitioners have had no criminal contact since their prior releases from DHS custody, and two petitioners have no criminal history of any kind, the lawsuit states, highlighting the unjust nature of these actions.The petition contends that many immigrants, including those whose cases are reopening in immigration court, are being deprived of due process by being detained spontaneously upon their return to ICE. Often they have previously been declared fit for release after their vetting by federal authorities.With reports indicating that detentions at ICE check-ins in San Diego alone are in the dozens, potentially exceeding 100, the urgency of this matter is amplified by personal testimonies. A gardener, Lorenzo, who has lived in the U.S. for over 30 years, expressed fears of his case being abruptly reopened and worries over what may happen if he does not comply with ICE’s orders.Community volunteers observed the tragic reality of recent detentions, with distressed individuals facing handcuffing during their check-ins. A federal judge is set to decide the fate of the detained petitioners and consider certifications for broader class action implications, carefully evaluating the validity of ICE's recent operations which many say undermine the rights of immigrants seeking safety and stability in the U.S.
