Kingpin’s $50M Narcotics Ring Busted in LA

New York Attorney General Letitia James, along with 19 other state attorneys general, has filed an amicus brief against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s new policy mandating indefinite detention without bond for many undocumented immigrants. The coalition argues that this policy, which eliminates the right to a bond hearing for those entering the country without inspection, violates due process and federal statutes.

In what’s being called one of the largest coordinated legal challenges against immigration policy, Attorney General James asserts, ‘DHS is attempting to rewrite immigration law, erase due process protections, and deny people their most basic constitutional rights.’

The brief highlights how the new detention policy endangers families, communities, and state economies. With over nine million U.S. citizens living with at least one undocumented family member, including more than four million children, the coalition argues that mandatory detention poses serious psychological risks to minors and economic instability for entire households.

Attorney General James further emphasizes the economic impact on industries reliant on undocumented labor, noting that detaining these workers disrupts the workforce and hampers local economies. The brief also underscores the high cost of immigration detention, which far exceeds the costs of alternative programs, such as DHS’s Alternatives to Detention program.

Moreover, the coalition argues that indefinite detention severely restricts access to legal representation for detainees, particularly when they are transferred to distant facilities, drastically reducing their chances of obtaining legal relief. The amicus brief represents a significant legal challenge to a controversial federal immigration policy that has sparked widespread debate and criticism.