6/27/2017

FOREIGN POLICY/IMMIGRATION/IRAQ: “To the chagrin of the government, a Detroit federal judge Monday [6-26-17] protected 1,444 Iraqi immigrants nationwide from being immediately deported, including some who faced possible eviction from the U.S. as early as Tuesday.
In issuing his emergency order, U.S. District Judge Mark Goldsmith concluded the Iraqi nationals — most of them Christians — could face persecution if sent back home and deserve more time to seek legal intervention. He said the case presents ‘extreme circumstances’ and gave all Iraqi nationals who face potential deportation an additional two weeks to legally challenge their removals.
‘The substantial allegations made here are the detainees face extreme, grave consequences: death, persecution and torture,’ Goldsmith wrote in his seven-page order. ‘Such harm far outweighs any government interest the government may have in proceeding with the removals immediately.’ “

-Tresa Baldas, “Judge issues stay halting deportation of 1,444 Iraqis nationwide,” USA Today, June 27, 2017 11:50am