The Latest: Immigration sweeps won't target storm evacuees

By The Associated Press 12 July 2019, 12:00AM

The Latest on immigration raids (all times local):

10:40 p.m.

Officials say migrant families who are evacuating due to Tropical Storm Barry will not be targeted during a nationwide immigration enforcement operation that could happen as soon as this weekend.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said in a news release Thursday night that it is focused on ensuring that people along the Gulf Coast stay safe during the storm.

Officials say U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection will not be conducting the immigration operations in places where evacuations or sheltering is occurring, unless there is "a serious public safety threat."

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1:15 p.m.

The American Civil Liberties Union has filed a federal lawsuit that aims to protect asylum seekers from an immigration enforcement operation expected to start this weekend.

The lawsuit argues that those individuals weren't allowed a fair chance to request asylum and their deportation orders aren't valid. Most of them are from El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras.

The ACLU alleges "massive bureaucratic errors" led to a failure to send proper notices to appear in court. Thousands were ordered removed without attending hearings.

The ACLU says most of the asylum seekers fled violence. It wants each person who was ordered removed that way since May 2014 to get a hearing.

The lawsuit was filed Thursday in New York on behalf of nonprofit organizations that work with refugees.

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8:45 a.m.

A nationwide immigration enforcement operation targeting people who are in the United States illegally is expected to begin this weekend after it was postponed last month by President Donald Trump.

That's according to two administration officials and immigrant activists.

It'll target people with final orders of removal, including families whose cases had been fast-tracked by judges. It's expected in 10 major cities.

It was initially set for late June, but Trump postponed it as Congress worked to pass a $4.6 billion border aid deal.

The administration officials say the operation remains in flux and it's possible it could begin later. The officials aren't authorized to discuss the matter publicly and are speaking on condition of anonymity.

Activists are circulating information about hotlines for immigrants to call and bolstering know-your-rights training.

By The Associated Press 12 July 2019, 12:00AM

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