LOS ANGELES (AP) — Arrestees who say they were denied bail because they had federal immigration holds are planning to sue the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, alleging they were illegally detained for days or months at a time.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California says it will file a federal lawsuit Friday challenging the sheriff's ability to detain arrestees solely on the basis of an immigration hold when they are eligible for bail or other forms of release.
Plaintiff Duncan Roy — a British film director — says he was held in jail for 89 days because of an immigration hold even though he tried to post bail multiple times.
Sheriff's spokeswoman Nicole Nishida says the department may hold people at the request of federal immigration authorities.
