Injunction Extended To Protect Iraqi Nationals From Immediate Deportation

In Hamama v. Adducci, (ED MI, July 24, 2017), a Michigan federal district court, in a 35-page opinion, issued a new preliminary injunction-- extending the one issued earlier this month-- preventing some 1444 Iraqi nationals with deportation orders from being removed while they attempt to convince immigration courts that their return will subject them to persecution, torture and possible death.  The Iraqis involved are Chaldean Christians, Kurds, and Sunni and Shiite Muslims.  The court said in part:

... all Petitioners will be targeted for torture or death based solely on their association with America.... Further, the perpetrators will not be limited to just ISIS, whose fortunes and influence may wax and wane with time. The record demonstrates that other Sunni groups, Shi’a militias backed by Iran, as well as Iraq’s own internal security forces, harbor  prejudice towards those affiliated with America, which will manifest itself in the form of torture and extrajudicial killings.... All Petitioners are also at risk due to the media coverage of their criminal records.... And it appears that most Petitioners are religious minorities who will face persecution at the hands of ISIS, other sectarian militias, or Iraq’s own forces.

Detroit Free Press reports on the decision.