Comments on: Immigrants in New York are in Dire Need of Increased Pro Bono Representation http://www.humanrightsfirst.org/2011/12/20/immigrants-in-new-york-are-in-dire-need-of-increased-pro-bono-representation/ Human Rights First builds respect for human rights and the rule of law to help ensure the dignity to which everyone is entitled and to stem intolerance, tyranny, and violence. Wed, 15 May 2013 16:48:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Phinnegan http://www.humanrightsfirst.org/2011/12/20/immigrants-in-new-york-are-in-dire-need-of-increased-pro-bono-representation/#comment-73670 Phinnegan Wed, 21 Dec 2011 05:15:48 +0000 http://www.humanrightsfirst.org/?p=16428#comment-73670 Are you frickin' kidding me, Jim? What don't you get? I'm guessing that you've never been brought up on criminal charges while indigent.... Am I right? Of course I am - you're probably a trust-fund baby or some Iowan or other; but here in the real world of which you suggest you have a clue, we need that provision of the Bill Of Rights that's called the 6th Amendment to The Constitution (or subsequent interpretation of it), precisely because such naive interpretations of our system of jurisprudence have led to disastrous consequences in terms of the escalating costs of defending oneself against the government! Let me say that more succinctly for ya - YOU have the right to an attorney, & if you cannot afford an attorney, one will be provided for you at the expense of the prosecuting authorities! Get it? Immigrants were deprived of the second part of that right to counsel - neither are they afforded government-appointed attorneys nor are they awarded compensation regardless of the atrocity which is committed in the courtroom! So, it's bs, alright! But you've got it backwards - you don't pay! They do! And more & more each day - the immigration enforcement regime is out of control & when they run out of immigrants to hunt, they'll be coming for you! Are you frickin’ kidding me, Jim?

What don’t you get?

I’m guessing that you’ve never been brought up on criminal charges while indigent….

Am I right?

Of course I am – you’re probably a trust-fund baby or some Iowan or other; but here in the real world of which you suggest you have a clue, we need that provision of the Bill Of Rights that’s called the 6th Amendment to The Constitution (or subsequent interpretation of it), precisely because such naive interpretations of our system of jurisprudence have led to disastrous consequences in terms of the escalating costs of defending oneself against the government!

Let me say that more succinctly for ya – YOU have the right to an attorney, & if you cannot afford an attorney, one will be provided for you at the expense of the prosecuting authorities!

Get it?

Immigrants were deprived of the second part of that right to counsel – neither are they afforded government-appointed attorneys nor are they awarded compensation regardless of the atrocity which is committed in the courtroom!

So, it’s bs, alright! But you’ve got it backwards – you don’t pay! They do!

And more & more each day – the immigration enforcement regime is out of control & when they run out of immigrants to hunt, they’ll be coming for you!

]]> By: Jim B http://www.humanrightsfirst.org/2011/12/20/immigrants-in-new-york-are-in-dire-need-of-increased-pro-bono-representation/#comment-73470 Jim B Tue, 20 Dec 2011 20:18:11 +0000 http://www.humanrightsfirst.org/?p=16428#comment-73470 That is just bs. Pay for what you get like the rest of us do. Find a way. That is just bs. Pay for what you get like the rest of us do. Find a way.

]]> By: Greg Sullivan http://www.humanrightsfirst.org/2011/12/20/immigrants-in-new-york-are-in-dire-need-of-increased-pro-bono-representation/#comment-73424 Greg Sullivan Tue, 20 Dec 2011 18:15:00 +0000 http://www.humanrightsfirst.org/?p=16428#comment-73424 We at First Friends now visit immigrant detainees at 4 locations in New Jersey. While we decry the conditions at these facilities, particularly the county jails, and question the need to incarcerate our non-violent neighbors,we are appalled by the legal situation facing immigrants. There are not enough competent lawyers, private or pro-bono,and there are not enough immigration judges. It is not unusual to see detainees held an extra 6 months because of case load or the need of a lawyer. This is cruel and punishing. Also, we understand that funding for LOP at the Elizabeth Detention Center is no longer available. All of these shortcomings underscore the inadequacies of DHS management of its enforcement only policy. We have sacrificed justice to political expediency We at First Friends now visit immigrant detainees at 4 locations in New Jersey. While we decry the conditions at these facilities, particularly the county jails, and question the need to incarcerate our non-violent neighbors,we are appalled by the legal situation facing immigrants. There are not enough competent lawyers, private or pro-bono,and there are not enough immigration judges. It is not unusual to see detainees held an extra 6 months because of case load or the need of a lawyer. This is cruel and punishing.

Also, we understand that funding for LOP at the Elizabeth Detention Center is no longer available.

All of these shortcomings underscore the inadequacies of DHS management of its enforcement only policy. We have sacrificed justice to political expediency

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