In brief
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. government for its decision to detain immigrants at the Louisiana State Penitentiary, commonly known as Angola. The lawsuit claims that detainees are subjected to inhumane conditions, including lack of basic necessities and foul water, and argues that holding individuals for crimes already served violates the Double Jeopardy clause. The ACLU seeks the release of some detainees who have not been deported within six months, highlighting the ongoing legal and moral implications of using a facility known for its violent history for immigrant detention.
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — A recent lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has brought attention to the detention of immigrants at Angola, a prison known for its dire history. The ACLU claims that these detainees are being punished for crimes they have already served time for, in violation of the Double Jeopardy clause.
The lawsuit argues that conditions at Angola are inhumane, citing issues like foul water and a lack of basic necessities. ACLU attorneys emphasized that the anti-immigrant rhetoric does not justify the indefinite detention in such a facility.
The anti-immigrant campaign under the guise of 'Making America Safe Again' does not justify indefinite detention in 'America's Bloodiest Prison' without the rights afforded to criminal defendants, said ACLU attorneys in their petition.
The ACLU alleges that some of the detainees at the “Louisiana Lockup” are eligible for release due to the government's failure to deport them within six months following a removal order, referencing a significant Supreme Court ruling regarding the nonpunitive nature of immigration detention.
The suit specifically names Oscar Hernandez Amaya, a Honduran man who has spent two years in ICE custody, transferred to Angola last month. His background highlights the systemic issues within the immigration enforcement system.
Critics of the facility, including various human rights organizations, have voiced concerns regarding the treatment of detainees. They assert that individuals at Angola are enduring intolerable living conditions that violate both human rights and legal statutes.
As the ACLU continues to advocate for the rights of these detainees, the federal government stands by its choice of Angola, claiming it will house only the most dangerous offenders, despite evidence suggesting otherwise.
