DETROIT _ A federal judge ruled Thursday that the 114 Iraqi immigrants arrested this month by Immigrations and Customs Enforcement can stay in the U.S. for at least two more weeks as he sorts out whether the court has jurisdiction.
U.S. District Judge Mark Goldsmith said in a written opinion released this afternoon: "The stay shall expire 14 days from today, unless otherwise ordered by the Court."
Goldsmith did not make a final determination in the lawsuit, which was filed against ICE by attorneys on behalf of Iraqi nationals arrested June 11.
Goldsmith said "the Court is unsure whether it has subject-matter jurisdiction."
Thursday's ruling was cheered as a victory by Clarence Dass, an attorney representing more than 20 of the Iraqis detained.
"We are ecstatic. When your life is on the line, each day is a victory. And in this case, 14 days. We now have the breathing room to ensure that every individual detained has the proper motions filed and, ultimately, a chance to be heard. The work continues."
The June 11 arrests by ICE sparked protests in metro Detroit by supporters who say the Iraqis would face persecution in Iraq since many of them are Christians. Almost 200 Iraqi nationals with criminal records have been arrested recently nationwide by federal immigration agents.
ICE has said the Iraqis arrested all had criminal backgrounds and final orders of deportation from an immigration judge.
Attorneys for the Iraqis have been filing appeals for the detainees in immigration and local county courts.
