Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Eugene

(62,630 posts)
Sat Jun 4, 2016, 03:45 PM Jun 2016

Immigrants appeal Texas judge’s order to turn over personal information

Source: The Guardian

Immigrants appeal Texas judge’s order to turn over personal information

• Federal judge ruled US must provide data of 50,000 people by 10 June
• ACLU and other civil rights groups challenge ‘politically driven’ lawsuit


Tom Dart in Houston
Saturday 4 June 2016 14.08 BST

Four immigrants are challenging a Texas-based judge’s order that the US justice department must give him the personal data of about 50,000 people who applied for benefits under the Obama administration’s deportation deferral programme.

Andrew Hanen, a federal judge, ruled on 19 May that the government must send the information by 10 June. The challenge announced on Friday seeks a decision that would avoid details such as addresses, social security numbers and immigrant registration identifiers potentially falling into the hands of states that want to block the president’s executive actions. The petition will ask the New Orleans-based federal fifth circuit appeals court to rule before that date.

Handing over personal information to authorities is a sensitive issue for many undocumented immigrants, who worry that it could be used against them.

“If Judge Hanen’s order is honoured, everyone else may have to think twice before submitting personal information to the government agencies because they will be worried that the information could be shared with politicians who will post them at any time for any reason,” said one of the plaintiffs, Angelica Villalobos, a 31-year-old Oklahoma resident, on a conference call with reporters on Friday.

“I’m very concerned that my family or I could be harassed or even physically harmed by private individuals should my personal information fall into the wrong hands. Having been a vocal advocate for immigrants, I am well aware of the anti-immigrant sentiment held by some individuals,” said another member of the 50,000 on the call, Juan Escalante, a 27-year-old from Florida.

[font size=1]-snip-[/font]


Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/jun/04/immigrants-appeal-texas-order-turn-over-personal-information
Latest Discussions»Issue Forums»Civil Liberties»Immigrants appeal Texas j...