(WJBK) - A key hearing is scheduled in federal court Friday that could determine the future of hundreds of Iraqi detainees awaiting deportation.
A judge will hear arguments about whether to indefinitely suspend the deportations, which have been delayed twice already.
Many of the people in question are here legally but have past criminal convictions.
- Chaldeans in metro Detroit fear new round of ICE arrests
- Families say deported Chaldeans will be persecuted in Iraq
- Woman who collapsed in front of ICE truck shares the toll of deportations
- ICE detains dozens, mostly from Iraq, in Metro Detroit
- Iraqi Christians, Muslims deported from Metro Detroit after U.S. deal with Iraq
- ICE raid leads to 1,000 gang arrests, including 20 in Michigan
Family members were hysterical as they watched their loved ones being taken away, not knowing when or if they'll see them again.
Families argue they were convicted of non-violent crimes and many were committed decades ago.
A spokesperson for ICE said the removal of those individuals is a result of recent negotiations between the US and Iraq.
They released the following statement:
ICE will not confirm an operation prior to its completion, nor will ICE speculate on future operational activities."