Latest news with #RobertF.KennedyHumanRights
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ask Jordan: Who authorized the El Salvador prison contract?
'Who authorized the $6 million contract with taxpayer money [to imprison immigrants in El Salvador]?' — Gina Hi Gina, Your question provides a platform to spotlight a new lawsuit — the first of its kind, per the plaintiffs who brought it. The suit aims to invalidate the agreement between the Trump administration and El Salvador to remove people from the U.S. and hold them incommunicado and potentially indefinitely in a Salvadoran prison known for human rights abuses. To answer your specific question, the complaint that launched the suit said the State Department made the agreement. As for the possible legal basis to strike down the deal, the complaint cites a federal law called the Administrative Procedure Act, which requires federal agency actions to be both reasonable and reasonably explained. The lawsuit argues the agreement fails to meet those requirements because it is 'arbitrary and capricious' and 'was entered into without any legal basis.' While it called the facts 'extraordinary,' the suit says the application of the law to the deal is an 'ordinary' one requiring striking it down. The plaintiffs are a coalition of groups: Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Immigrant Defenders Law Center, Immigration Equality and the California Collaborative for Immigrant Justice, all of whom are represented by Democracy Forward. (RFK Human Rights, which is named for former senator and attorney general Robert F. Kennedy Sr., not the current health and human services secretary, is also representing itself.) It's still early in the new case, which was assigned to U.S. District Judge James Boasberg, Washington, D.C.'s chief federal trial judge, who is also presiding over separate litigation stemming from the administration's illegal Salvadoran renditions. The government hasn't yet responded in court to this latest suit; we don't know how it's going to play out or when it will be resolved. But the case provides another possible legal tool against one of the centerpieces of Trump's second-term agenda. Whatever the result of this latest litigation, it may uncover more information about the agreement along the way. Have any questions or comments for me? Please submit them on this form for a chance to be featured in the Deadline: Legal Blog and newsletter. This article was originally published on
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Immigrant rights groups sue to invalidate Trump administration's El Salvador prison deal
A coalition of immigrant rights groups on Thursday sued to invalidate the Trump administration's deal to house detainees in a notorious prison in El Salvador, saying the arrangement to move migrant detainees outside the reach of U.S. courts violates the U.S. Constitution. The lawsuit in federal court in Washington, D.C., notes that the administration has argued that those sent to El Salvador are beyond the reach of U.S. courts and no longer have access to due process rights or other U.S. constitutional guarantees. The deal, the plaintiffs allege, 'is contrary to law. And it was entered into without any legal basis.' The administration has sent hundreds of migrants to El Salvador, including some it accuses of being members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. The administration in March agreed to pay $6 million for El Salvador to house 300 migrants. President Donald Trump has said he'd like to eventually send U.S. citizen criminals to the Salvadoran prison, though that'd likely be unconstitutional. The lawsuit notes that the State Department has reported that inmates in El Salvador's prisons may be subject to 'harsh and life-threatening' conditions, torture and lack access to reliable food, water and medical care. The prisons are run by the government of El Salvador's president, Nayib Bukele, who once called himself 'the world's coolest dictator' and has posted images of detainees sent from the U.S. getting marched into his centerpiece prison, the Terrorism Confinement Center, known as CECOT. The State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In one notorious case cited in the lawsuit, the Trump administration has not returned Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland man it deported to El Salvador in violation of a judge's order, saying the man is no longer in its custody. That was the administration's argument when another judge ordered it to halt deportations under an 18th century wartime act — that the deportees were on a plane to El Salvador and outside the legal reach of federal judges. The suit was filed by Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the Immigrant Defenders Law Center, Immigrant Equality, the California Collaborative for Immigrant Justice and Democracy Forward, which is co-counsel in a separate lawsuit over the initial flights to El Salvador. Thursday's lawsuit says the deal violates the Administrative Procedures Act, which prevents agencies like the State Department, which reached the deal with El Salvador, from undertaking unconstitutional or otherwise illegal acts. In addition to violating the constitution, the suit notes that housing prisoners in El Salvador violates the First Step Act, a law requiring federal prisons to try to house inmates close to home. That law was signed by Trump in 2018.
Winnipeg Free Press
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Immigrant rights groups sue to invalidate Trump administration's El Salvador prison deal
A coalition of immigrant rights groups on Thursday sued to invalidate the Trump administration's deal to house detainees in a notorious prison in El Salvador, saying the arrangement to move migrant detainees outside the reach of U.S. courts violates the U.S. Constitution. The lawsuit in federal court in Washington, D.C., notes that the administration has argued that those sent to El Salvador are beyond the reach of U.S. courts and no longer have access to due process rights or other U.S. constitutional guarantees. The deal, the plaintiffs allege, 'is contrary to law. And it was entered into without any legal basis.' The administration has sent hundreds of migrants to El Salvador, including some it accuses of being members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. The administration in March agreed to pay $6 million for El Salvador to house 300 migrants. President Donald Trump has said he'd like to eventually send U.S. citizen criminals to the Salvadoran prison, though that'd likely be unconstitutional. The lawsuit notes that the State Department has reported that inmates in El Salvador's prisons may be subject to 'harsh and life-threatening' conditions, torture and lack access to reliable food, water and medical care. The prisons are run by the government of El Salvador's president, Nayib Bukele, who once called himself 'the world's coolest dictator' and has posted images of detainees sent from the U.S. getting marched into his centerpiece prison, the Terrorism Confinement Center, known as CECOT. The State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In one notorious case cited in the lawsuit, the Trump administration has not returned Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland man it deported to El Salvador in violation of a judge's order, saying the man is no longer in its custody. That was the administration's argument when another judge ordered it to halt deportations under an 18th century wartime act — that the deportees were on a plane to El Salvador and outside the legal reach of federal judges. The suit was filed by Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the Immigrant Defenders Law Center, Immigrant Equality, the California Collaborative for Immigrant Justice and Democracy Forward, which is co-counsel in a separate lawsuit over the initial flights to El Salvador. Thursday's lawsuit says the deal violates the Administrative Procedures Act, which prevents agencies like the State Department, which reached the deal with El Salvador, from undertaking unconstitutional or otherwise illegal acts. In addition to violating the constitution, the suit notes that housing prisoners in El Salvador violates the First Step Act, a law requiring federal prisons to try to house inmates close to home. That law was signed by Trump in 2018.
Hindustan Times
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Immigrant rights groups sue to invalidate Trump administration's El Salvador prison deal
A coalition of immigrant rights groups on Thursday sued to invalidate the Trump administration's deal to house detainees in a notorious prison in El Salvador, saying the arrangement to move migrant detainees outside the reach of U.S. courts violates the U.S. Constitution. The lawsuit in federal court in Washington, D.C., notes that the administration has argued that those sent to El Salvador are beyond the reach of U.S. courts and no longer have access to due process rights or other U.S. constitutional guarantees. The deal, the plaintiffs allege, 'is contrary to law. And it was entered into without any legal basis.' The administration has sent hundreds of migrants to El Salvador, including some it accuses of being members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. The administration in March agreed to pay $6 million for El Salvador to house 300 migrants. President Donald Trump has said he'd like to eventually send U.S. citizen criminals to the Salvadoran prison, though that'd likely be unconstitutional. The lawsuit notes that the State Department has reported that inmates in El Salvador's prisons may be subject to 'harsh and life-threatening' conditions, torture and lack access to reliable food, water and medical care. The prisons are run by the government of El Salvador's president, Nayib Bukele, who once called himself 'the world's coolest dictator' and has posted images of detainees sent from the U.S. getting marched into his centerpiece prison, the Terrorism Confinement Center, known as CECOT. The State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In one notorious case cited in the lawsuit, the Trump administration has not returned Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland man it deported to El Salvador in violation of a judge's order, saying the man is no longer in its custody. That was the administration's argument when another judge ordered it to halt deportations under an 18th century wartime act — that the deportees were on a plane to El Salvador and outside the legal reach of federal judges. The suit was filed by Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the Immigrant Defenders Law Center, Immigrant Equality, the California Collaborative for Immigrant Justice and Democracy Forward, which is co-counsel in a separate lawsuit over the initial flights to El Salvador. Thursday's lawsuit says the deal violates the Administrative Procedures Act, which prevents agencies like the State Department, which reached the deal with El Salvador, from undertaking unconstitutional or otherwise illegal acts. In addition to violating the constitution, the suit notes that housing prisoners in El Salvador violates the First Step Act, a law requiring federal prisons to try to house inmates close to home. That law was signed by Trump in 2018.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Colorado immigration activist Jeanette Vizguerra wins Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award
DENVER (KDVR) — A Colorado immigration activist facing deportation after being detained by immigration officials in March is one of the latest recipients of the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award. Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, an organization that aims to pursue the late senator and former attorney general's 'dream of a more just and peaceful world' through litigation, business and education efforts, every year awards 'champions of social justice who stand up to oppression, even at great personal risk, in the nonviolent pursuit of human rights.' City breaks ground on $2M renovation of La Raza Park For their 2025 class of award recipients, the organization recognized Colorado's Jeanette Vizguerra, along with Maine Gov. Janet Mills and former U.S. Department of Justice Pardon Attorney Elizabeth Oyer. 'As the daughter of our former attorney general, I know firsthand the necessity of protecting and preserving our democracy,' said Kerry Kennedy, president of Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights. 'From taking a stand against unlawful executive orders and bolstering the moral strength of the Department of Justice to advocating for vulnerable immigrants, these women have chosen to stand up for their beliefs during a time when it is increasingly difficult to do so. I'm honored to recognize Governor Mills, Elizabeth Oyer, and Jeanette Vizguerra, and I hope that this award is a beacon of hope for others like them.' ICE took Vizguerra into custody on March 17 and said that she illegally entered the U.S. and has a final order of deportation. Vizguerra's legal team has since petitioned under the argument that there was no valid removal order to detain Vizguerra. Vizguerra came to the U.S. from Mexico in 1997 with her husband and eldest daughter and has fought her deportation and for immigrant rights since 2009. She took refuge in a Denver church in 2017 during President Donald Trump's first term, and her legal team has said her targeting and detainment in March were politically motivated. She was also recognized in 2017 as one of Time Magazine's most influential people for her efforts. This Denver metro suburb is among the fastest growing American cities: US Census 'Recently, while detained in a detention center, I received the news that I had received this human rights award. I thank RFK Human Rights for this honor,' Vizguerra said in a press release. She said she has used her own resources in her fight for immigration rights and hopes to continue doing so. 'The government wants to silence my voice, but I will continue to sow rebellion until I reap freedom,' Vizguerra said. 'This award is not only for me but for every person who has been involved in my life—especially my children and my immigrant community. I hope our voices are never silenced.' Mills, Oyer, and Vizguerra will be recognized during a public ceremony on June 5 at the Kennedy Caucus Room in the Russell Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
