The Greater Los Angeles Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) today condemned the unlawful detention of its client, Aliakbar Manaie, by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The organization also welcomed the filing of a writ of habeas corpus by its legal partner, the Law Offices of Stacy Tolchin, challenging the detention.
[Note: A writ of habeas corpus is a judicial order requiring law enforcement to produce a detainee and justify their continued confinement.]
Originally from Iran, Manaie has been on parole since 2017, a discretionary release from detention that permits individuals to remain in the U.S. under certain conditions without being detained. For nearly a decade, Manaie has attended all hearings for his removal proceedings and met all court deadlines. He has a merits hearing for his immigration claim scheduled for later this year.
Manaie was arrested with no explanation for why his parole status was revoked. His detention now jeopardizes his ability to meaningfully prepare for and participate in his immigration case.
The habeas petition argues that the government violated Manaie’s constitutional rights to due process. The Constitution guarantees due process for all people on U.S. soil, regardless of their immigration status, and states that the government cannot deprive a person of their liberty without an explanation.
In a statement, Stacy Tolchin, Esq., said:
“Our client was kidnapped from his home in Los Angeles by immigration authorities without any basis in law. Mr. Manaie was paroled by immigration officials nearly a decade ago and told that his parole would not be canceled unless there was a change in circumstances, which there has not been. During his parole, he has fully cooperated with government authorities without incident and has not violated any terms of his release. By every available measure, he poses no threat to public safety.
“Mr. Manaie has built a life here in California with his family, including his three children who are U.S. citizens; his unexpected and unjust detention has been a devastating blow to him and his loved ones. We will hold the administration accountable in court for violating Mr. Manaie’s constitutional rights, and we will not stop until he is home with his family.”
In a statement, CAIR-LA Immigrants’ Rights Senior Managing Attorney Amina Fields, Esq., said:
“Mr. Manaie’s case is not an isolated one. He is one of the countless individuals who have been unjustly targeted by the Trump administration’s clear anti-immigrant agenda. Blatant disregard for due process has become the norm, not an anomaly, as officials continue to implement an inhumane ‘detain first, justify later’ policy that only serves to tear apart families and punish immigrant communities.
“We are working with our community partners and the Law Offices of Stacy Tolchin to pursue immediate legal action challenging Mr. Manaie’s unlawful detention and fight for his immediate release.”
CAIR-LA recently welcomed the release of two of its clients from immigration detention after a federal court granted the organization’s separate petitions for a writ of habeas corpus. Federal judges found that both clients were detained by ICE unlawfully and ordered their release under the protection of the court.
If you or someone you know require immigration legal assistance, contact CAIR-LA’s Immigrants’ Rights Center at (714) 776-1177 (ext. 1) or click here to submit an intake form.
CAIR-LA is Southern California’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice and empower American Muslims.
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CONTACT: CAIR-LA Communications Manager Enjy El-Kadi, (714) 851-4851 or eelkadi@cair.com; CAIR-LA Senior Communications Coordinator Madi Hameed, mmorse-hameed@cair.com