In a stunning example of abuse of power, Monroe County Sheriff Rick Ramsay participated in efforts by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to deport a U.S. citizen. A lawsuit filed on December 3, 2018, by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) describes the ordeal faced by Peter Sean Brown after he surrendered himself to local law enforcement on a minor probation violation and was held in jail in Monroe County. Despite the fact that Brown was born in the U.S. and has lived here for his whole life, ICE officials requested that he be held for 48 hours for potential deportation.
An Unwillingness to Listen
Brown repeatedly informed officials at the sheriff’s department and at ICE that he was an American citizen and offered to provide them with a copy of his birth certificate. Both the local law enforcement agency and ICE insisted that Brown was a citizen of Jamaica based on errors in the ICE database. In fact, Brown had visited Jamaica only once for a single day while on a cruise. The information listed on the ICE detainer was also at odds with Brown’s actual appearance, listing his height as seven feet when Brown’s height was only five feet seven inches.
Resolving the Issue
Brown was held in custody for weeks before he was turned over to ICE and transferred to a Miami ICE facility. It was during his tenure in this facility that someone at ICE finally agreed to look at his birth certificate. Brown was hastily released and left to find his own way home from the Miami facility. ICE officials confiscated all the deportation documentation before allowing him to leave. This cavalier attitude toward the civil rights of detainees prompted the ACLU lawsuit against the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office for its automatic detention policies.
Finding the Right Legal Help
For those facing unfair tactics by local law enforcement or ICE officials, retaining the services of a qualified Miami immigration lawyer can provide added help in pleading your case to these authorities. Your Miami immigration lawyer will deal with all applicable paperwork and will provide you with assertive representation for your case and your situation.
If you need the help of an experienced Miami ICE deportation lawyer, Pozo Goldstein can provide you with expert help to resolve issues with deportation proceedings, questions about citizenship or immigration issues. Call our office today at 305-856-0400 to schedule an initial consultation with us. We look forward to the opportunity to serve you.