Officials Need Court Orders to Drug Detainees; SB335 in Indiana Would Suspend Businesses That Hire Undocumented Workers; Chicago Women Faces Deportation After Handicapped Husband Dies.
►Immigration Officials Can’t Sedate People without Court Order
A lawsuit by the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) of Southern California sued the government to stop the practice of sedating foreigners without a federal court order. “The government may only sedate an alien to facilitate removal where the Government has obtained a court order,” part of the memo read.
The memo also said that even emergency or exigent circumstances were not reasonable in this case. According to a Los Angeles Times Report, in the past, nurses or doctors sedated immigrants during deportation for those who were agitated or were perceived as a danger. 56 deportees were given psychotropic drugs between October 1, 2006 and April 30, 2007, the same report said but the controversy lies in that 33 did not have any history of psychological problems before being given medication.
Even with the victory for the ACLU, they plan on continuing their lawsuit which seeks compensation for Indonesia born, Raymond Seouth and Senegal born, Amadou Diouf who were sedated, and wanting the government to release more information on sedation policy on involuntarily medicated people.
►Bill in Indiana Would Punish Business
A panel that would have businesses face strict penalties, including the loss of a business license is being presented in a Senate committee in Indiana. The Indianapolis Star and other state media are reporting that a vote could be taken almost immediately, if it passes its committee.
Supporters of the bill say their state of Indiana is stuck with many costs of services because of the federal government’s failure in enforcing immigration law. Opponents of the bill say it could have unintended consequences in the business community and the work force.
According to 2006 estimates by the PEW Hispanic Center, 55,000 to 85,000 undocumented people live in Indiana. Mary Jane Gonzalez of the Indiana State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce told the Indianapolis Star that in her community that people are leaving the state because of fear, in essence, she was quoted, “it’s time for you guys to move on.”
►Handicapped Husband Dies, Wife in Chicago Faces Deportation
After living in the United States for seventeen years, Croatian born, Corina Turcinovic of Chicago was detained for multiple violations after her husband Maro died, the Chicago Sun Times reported.
Maro Turcinovic was injured in a car accident and paralyzed from the neck down.
His wife, Corina was allowed to stay and received a waiver. Maro was granted legal status and was applying for citizenship. However, in a report by the Houston Chronicle, Maro was not able to get fingerprinted because he could not leave his home. Fingerprinting is part of the process towards citizenship.
When Corina’s husband died in 2004, she was facing deportation orders again. The Houston Chronicle reports she could be deported as early as Jan. 30. The incident has lead to Rep. Dan Lipinski (D-Ill.) to introduce a private bill in her favor and even men offering marriage proposals to keep her in the United States, according to Turcinovic’s attorney. Private bills benefit specific people and the marriage proposals are not legal.
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