Just about a hundred Mexicans asked the government to return to the U.S. before Wednesday's deadline. The reason for the request was because of a lawsuit accusing the federal immigration officials in Southern California of not correctly advising people about their rights.
According to Fox News, The American Civil Liberties Union sued the Department of Homeland Security in 2013 over the use of a process to force out people from the country known as a voluntary return. Under the method, people give up rights to come out before an immigration judge and can't lawfully go back to the U.S. for up to 10 years. The lawsuit stated that authorities pressured people into agreeing with the terms. Though the government didn't recognize that they were mistaken, they agreed to change it as well as a revised version of the form. The new form states the penalties and alternatives of a voluntary return, new training and procedures and an information hotline for detainees seeking legal aid.
Moreover, ABC News reported that ACLU pointed out that so far there are 20 Mexicans who have been approved to return. They also said a hundred might qualify and their cases are being reviewed plus an estimated thousand more might be eligible for those chances. Atty. Gabriela Rivera also informed the press that some Mexicans were approved by the government to continue their efforts to stay in the country legally. She added that the qualifications are high like being married to a U.S. citizen after entering the country legally, being in the country for at least 10 years and having a spouse, child or parent who relies on them, or being eligible to be shielded from deportation under President Barack Obama's 2012 executive order.
Associated Press stated that ACLU organized a widespread campaign on both sides of the border for people who accepted voluntary returns in Southern California during the period covered by the settlement. However, agencies made no commitment because of the little changes to Southern California.
The federal agency said that in the recent years, decrease in the number of voluntary returns can be seen. It has dropped dramatically to less than 9,000 nationwide.
