PBS and NPR for Southwest Florida
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Miami Man's Arrest Spurs ACLU Lawsuit Challenging Federal Immigration Enforcement

Photo: Miami-Dade Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation

A man arrested in Miami-Dade county in March was cleared for release but held an extra day at the request of federal immigration officials, an act he alleges in a lawsuit violated his fourth amendment rights. Garland Creedle is now suing the county with the help of the American Civil Liberties Union.

Creedle was arrested in March on a domestic violence charged. Cleared by local law enforcement, the 18-year-old U.S. citizen was held by the county for an additional 48 hours at the request of federal immigration officials. In the suit, the ACLU claims Creedle was detained past his criminal custody "solely for a suspected civil immigration violation." Miami-Dade County has been participating in such immigration-related holds since President Trump threatened in January to cut off funding for “sanctuary cities" that don't compley with such requests.

In the suit, the ACLU further alleges the system by which local law enforcement agencies detain immigrants arrested for unrelated causes is illegal. Further, the ACLU alleges Florida law also "prohibits jail officials from detaining people for civil immigration purposes."

ACLU of Florida attorney Amien Kacou joins the show to discuss Creedles detention, why they allege it was unlawful, and the larger constitutional questions the lawsuit raises.

Also joining the show is Francesca Menes with the Florida Immigrant Coalition, as well as Pamela Seay, 
an attoreny and constitutional law professor at FGCU.
 

Matthew Smith is a reporter and producer of WGCU’s Gulf Coast Live.
Related Content
  1. ACLU Takes On Florida, Federal Officials Over Voter Data