In brief
The ACLU has filed a lawsuit asserting that immigration detainees at Louisiana's infamous Angola prison are facing retribution for past crimes for which they have already been punished. The legal challenge emphasizes alleged violations of the Double Jeopardy clause as detainees report inhumane conditions characterized by unsanitary water and lack of basic provisions. The lawsuit cites a ruling that mandates immigration detention must be 'nonpunitive.'
BATON ROUGE, La. — A lawsuit initiated by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) accuses the Trump administration of unlawfully detaining immigrants at Louisiana’s notorious Angola prison. The lawsuit, filed in federal court, claims that detainees are being punished for crimes for which they have already served their sentences, violating the Double Jeopardy clause of the U.S. Constitution.
The ACLU's concerns center on the prison's “uniquely horrifying history” as a former slave plantation. The organization contends that the current conditions of confinement are inhumane, lacking essentials like clean water and adequate medical care, which also raises legal issues regarding punitive detention.
"The anti-immigrant campaign under the guise of 'Making America Safe Again' does not justify indefinite detention without due process," argued ACLU attorneys. The lawsuit highlights failures in the legal process as some detainees should be released due to delays in deportation proceedings.
This legal action follows the recent reopening of the prison, designed to hold up to 400 detainees described by officials as some of the most dangerous individuals in ICE custody. The facility has been criticized for its treatment of inmates, including claims that detainees had to go on hunger strikes to demand basic necessities.
Oscar Hernandez Amaya, a Honduran national, is one of the plaintiffs in the case, having spent two years in ICE custody following a past conviction. While a U.S. immigration judge granted him protection from deportation back to Honduras due to fears of persecution, he remains in detention as the government has not found an alternative destination for him.
Nora Ahmed, the ACLU of Louisiana’s legal director, emphasized that punitive measures against immigration detainees are unconstitutional. The case raises significant concerns about the conditions and purpose of immigration detention in the U.S., especially within a facility known for its violent history.
