Judge Pregerson Dissents in 60 Cases: Objects to Effective Deportation of U.S. Citizens

Late last week, U.S. Court of Appeals Judge Harry Pregerson submitted dissents in a series of unpublished dispositions (60 according to his dissent but all of the dispositions do not appear to have been filed yet).  Judge Pregerson contends that, in those cases, ordering the deportation of a noncitizen parent in effect will result in the deportation of a U.S. child.  Judge Pregerson, a veteran, notes that many immigrants are dying in war and states the hope that Congress will intervene.  Click here to see one of the dissents.

Judge Pregerson has raised a critically important issue in these 60 cases. The effective deportation of citizen children through the deportation of citizen parents has long been an issue.  Recently, workplace immigration raids, such as the one in New Bedford, Massachusetts earlier this year, resulted in immigrant parents being arrested and not coming home to theor citizen children.  Elvira Arrellano’s U.S. citizen son was effectively removed when he followed her to Mexico after she was deported.

Thanks to Cappy White for spotting this development.

KJ