Immigrant advocates sue gov’t over detainers

Immigrant advocates have filed a lawsuit alleging that immigration agents are filing paperwork to keep arrestees in custody longer without investigating whether they’re in the country illegally.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California and other advocates filed the lawsuit Wednesday in federal court in Los Angeles.

The suit alleges that Immigration and Customs Enforcement places detainers on arrestees before investigating their immigration status. The detainers are good for 48 hours excluding weekends and holidays and let agents keep arrestees in custody once they are released in their criminal cases.

ACLU attorney Jennie Pasquarella says the goal is to stop agents in Southern California from filing detainers without probable cause, noting some Americans have been subject to immigration holds.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement had no immediate comment.