Only about 100 Mexicans had the chance to go back to their families in the United States as the American Civil Liberties Union won against the Department of Homeland Security. Although 100 Mexicans have been identified, only 20 were approved by the US government.
ACLU has settled its lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security back in 2013 accusing federal immigration officials of Southern California. The accusation to the officials of not advising the people of their rights as well as the usage of a procedure expelling immigrants from the country which is also known as the policy of 'voluntary return'. The said procedure, as reported by The Big Story, made the people to surrender rights to appear before an immigration judge followed by a prohibition of up to ten years to legally return to the US. Thus, through the ACLU settlement this has been changed.
The News also expounded on the said changes of the policy saying immigrants will not only be given choices of surrendering to an immigration judge and leave the US for ten years but they will also be informed of the possible consequences once they avail of the procedure. Moreover, new training agents who will provide the information through hotlines will be provided for detainees who will be seeking legal aids in the future.
The qualifications were also given for those Mexicans who will be willing to apply for their come back to the US. The following were noted by JD Journal: The Mexican must have married a US citizen after having entered the country legally. The Mexican applicant must also have stayed in the country for 10 years or more, must have a spouse, child or parent who relies on them or are eligible to be shielded from deportation under President Barack Obama's 2012 executive order. The applicant must have accepted a voluntary return in Southern California between 2009 and 2014.
Although almost 200,000 deported people has not been identified yet there are already plans on bringing the information into billboards and TV advertising to reach for the remaining Mexicans back to their families in the US.
