Judge restores immigrant-detention hotline featured in 'Orange Is the New Black'
LOS ANGELES _ A federal judge this week demanded that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement temporarily restore a national toll-free hotline for detained immigrants that was shut down two weeks after being featured on the television show "Orange Is the New Black."
Freedom for Immigrants, which ran the confidential hotline, sued the Department of Homeland Security in January, contending that the termination was an act of retaliation and a violation of free speech. The California-based group advocates for an end to immigrant detention and has long been a vocal critic of ICE, which is overseen by DHS.
Under the court order, ICE must bring back the telephone extension while the legal case continues. The court also concluded that Freedom for Immigrants is likely to win.
In court documents, lawyers for ICE maintained that the agency has the right to regulate phone access by detainees.
_ Los Angeles Times
