On August 11, 2011, NIJC filed a class action lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the immigration detainers the Department of Homeland Security issues to request that local police hold individuals after their own authority has expired, until immigration officers arrive to take the individuals into custody. The detainers are a key tool used in the controversial Secure Communities program, which DHS has decided to force on every local law enforcement agency in the United States by 2013.
Los Angeles Times: Immigration: Homeland Security hit with flurry of immigration lawsuits (8/17/2011)
Los Angeles Times: Homeland Security sued over immigrant detention (8/12/2011)
The Chicago Tribune: Deportations prompt protest outside Obama's Chicago campaign headquarters(8/17/2011)
Huffington Post: Ten Arrested At Anti-Deportation Protest That Blocked Kennedy Expressway Ramp (8/18/2011)
Latin America News Dispatch: Immigration Policy: ICE Detainers Challenged By Lawsuit (10/17/2011)
Arizona Daily Star: Homeland Security Charged with Using Police to Hold Suspects: Immigration group sues to halt detentions (8/13/2011)
Fox News Latino: News DHS sued over jail immigration holds (8/15/2011)
Lawndale News: The Legal Challenge to Secure Communities Program (8/25/2011)
Tampa Bay Online: Immigrants sue over detentions (8/13/2011)
The BLT: Blog of Legal Times: Class Action Filed Against DHS Over Local Immigration Detentions (8/12/2011)
Hyphen magazine: The Department of Homeland Security Sued over Unlawful Detentions (8/29/2011)
WBEZ Chicago Public Radio: Cook County Board could vote on freeing inmates wanted by immigration authorities (9/2/2011)
The Gate: Cook County Ordinance Prevents Detaining Immigrants for ICE (9/8/2011)
Change.org: Cook County, Illinois, Stands up Against Costly Immigration Detentions (9/7/2011)
In November 2011, two more plaintiffs joined NIJC's federal lawsuit challenging the use of immigration detainers. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) wrongly subjected all three U.S. citizens to “detainers” or “immigration holds”, which instruct local police to detain individuals who ICE suspects have immigration violations.
Patch.com: Two More U.S. Citizens Join Lawsuit Challenging Immigration Detainers (12/2/2011)
In December 2012, a federal judge in Illinois ruled that NIJC can proceed with its federal lawsuit challenging the U.S. government's use of immigration detainers.
Agencia EFE republished by FOX News Latino: Suit against immigration detainers to go forward (12/4/2012)