On Tuesday, a federal judge in Oregon issued a ruling that prevents Mexican asylum seekers from being removed from detention facilities in Washington, according to local reports.
The case revolves around a 24-year-old transgender woman, referred to as “OJM” in legal documents, who was taken into custody outside a Portland courtroom on Monday and subsequently moved to the Northwest Ice Processing Center in Tacoma, Washington.
Judge Amy Baguio, a U.S. District Judge appointed by President Joe Biden, instructed ICE to provide the exact date and reason for her removal from Portland, emphasizing the urgent need for such information.
The order was prompted by OJM’s attorney filing a habeas petition, claiming he had been unaware of her location. Stephen Manning, an immigration attorney, noted that although OJM was processed at the Tacoma Detention Center, she has been denied access since her transfer.
OJM seeks asylum due to threats and violence she faced in Mexico because of her gender identity and sexual orientation. Her petition highlights that due to her transgender identity, she was subjected to threats against her life, which compelled her to flee to the United States in September 2023.
During a recent court hearing in Portland, ICE attorneys sought to dismiss OJM’s case entirely. This led to her arrest, which was criticized as a dangerous attempt to bypass due process and deny her the right to seek asylum.
Jordan Cannings, another attorney involved, voiced concerns over the actions being taken, labeling them as unethical and contradictory to the values Oregon stands for. Meanwhile, the mayor of Portland, Keith Wilson, reaffirmed the city’s commitment to sanctuary policies, asserting that Portland will not impede legal federal enforcement activities.
Amid all this, the situation is complicated by Oregon’s Sanctuary Law, which limits long-term immigration detention facilities. The nearest facility, Tacoma, houses individuals who come through the temporary holding cells in Portland.
As the legal battle unfolds, the community remains engaged, with protests occurring outside the Tacoma facility, highlighting the ongoing debate around immigration policy and the rights of asylum seekers.
