The Supreme Court Just Issued a Truly Devastating Decision for Immigrants

The Supreme Court just issued a devastating decision for immigrants. The court ruled that immigrants can be detained for years without a bail hearing.

Alex Lora was detained for six months with no bail hearing. He was a lawful permanent U.S. resident with a young son.  

“I am from the Dominican Republic, and I’ve been here for 25 years in New York. It’s not easy. You go to work, you come back home, but sometimes you don’t even know if you’re going to come back home. Every day I live in fear.” Lora stated.  “My mother brought me from the Dominican Republic. I was seven years old when I got my green card. Most of my family is here, so I don’t be going back and forth to the Dominican Republic.”

In 2009, he was working at a grocery store police officers rushed in. Because someone in the store was found with drugs, everyone was arrested. After being advised to plead guilty to charges, Loren was detained by the ICE years later. He describes his time being detained like being in prison, with extremely unsuitable living conditions. He was also told that if he signed a document to be deported, then he could leave confinement.

Lora received his bail hearing before the SCOTUS decision, but if he were detained today, he would not have had that opportunity.