Honduran Mother and Son Allege Mistreatment in ICE Detention Facility

A woman and her nine-year-son who emigrated from the Honduras in 2015 have filed suit pursuant to the Federal Tort Claims Act in New Jersey federal court against the Obama administration with respect to the alleged detainment and mistreatment that they endured after arriving in the U.S. The plaintiffs claim that they are entitled to damages for the harms that they suffered due to the U.S. government violating its obligation to protect immigrants in its custody who fear persecution if returned to their native country. ICE officials allegedly separated the woman and her son from the boy’s father and detained them in harsh conditions in Texas immigrant detention facilities commonly referred to as the “ice box” and the “dog house.” Prior to 2014, the suit alleges, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) almost never detained families, but that policy changed with the opening of detention facilities in Texas and New Mexico. The woman originally left the Honduras in 1998 after Hurricane Mitch hit, and was granted temporary protected status in the U.S. She returned to the Honduras in 2006 after the Honduran police allegedly murdered her mother and stepfather. After openly criticizing the police for their actions, the women reported suffering assaults and threats. As a result, she, her partner, and her son fled Honduras. They eventually arrived in the U.S. in 2015, where U.S. Customs and Border Protection detained and separated the family for eight months. While detained, the woman alleges that she and her son suffered physical and emotional harm, including being housed in a cold and unhealthy environment that was designed to pressure immigrants to sign off on deportation papers. Eventually, the woman was granted asylum and she and her son settled in New Jersey, where they reunited with other family members. We are the California deportation defense lawyers whom you can turn to if you or a loved one are facing deportation proceedings, no matter what the reason may be. Regardless of the complexity or difficulty of the situation, Landerholm Immigration, A.P.C. has the experience, knowledge, and skills to advocate on behalf of you and your family throughout the course of any deportation proceedings.