A recently released study done by ACLU and Human Rights Watch showed that people with mental disabilities, including U.S. citizens, are at a much higher risk of lengthy detention and wrongful deportation than people without mental disabilities because they are unable to represent themselves.  The research included the stories of 58 mentally ill people, some of which did not even know their own names.

Now, immigration activists are arguing that immigration detainees with mental disabilities should receive legal representation in court.  A coalition of legal organizations filed a lawsuit on Monday evening in the federal court in Los Angeles, California to win try to win the constitutional right they believe mentally disabled immigrants deserve.  The lawsuit was filed in support of six immigrants with disabilities ranging from depression to schizophrenia and mental retardation fighting for their rights in immigration courts across the country.

Director of immigrant’s rights for the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California Ahilan Arulanantham stated, “If someone cannot understand the proceedings against them, due process requires that they be given a lawyer to help them”.

If you or someone you know has questions regarding immigration, contact the Orange County immigration petitions lawyers of Garg & Associates P.C. at 949-540-6704 to learn more about your rights.