Oregon's Federal Public Defender Files For Release Of Immigrant Detainees

Source: Oregon Public Broadcasting

Oregon’s federal public defender filed a petition Friday, seeking the immediate release of immigrants who are detained at the Federal Correctional Institution in Sheridan.

The writ of habeas corpus is on behalf of a Honduran man who tried to cross the U.S.-Mexico border at San Ysidro, California — a legal point of entry. According to the filing, Santos Osorto-Chicas and his 9-year-old son — identified in the document as D.O.C. — requested asylum at the border, but were detained by immigration officials.

Osorto-Chicas and his family were fleeing Honduras in fear of their lives, according to Public Defender Lisa Hay.

In May and June, the federal government detained 123 men who tried to cross the border, and sent them to the Sheridan prison. Those men came from a variety of countries — including Guatemala, Honduras, China, Russia, Armenia, Eritrea and Bangladesh — and were detained as part of the Trump administration’s zero tolerance policy on illegal immigration.

Read more: https://www.opb.org/news/article/immigrant-detainees-release-oregon-public-defender/