In brief
Jose Contreras-Cervantes has been in U.S. custody since August due to a deportation case, despite suffering from chronic myeloid leukemia. Advocates from the ACLU are pushing for bond hearings that could reunite him with his family and provide necessary medical treatment, amid criticism of immigration policies from the previous administration.
DETROIT (AP) — Federal authorities are resisting calls to release Jose Contreras-Cervantes, a Michigan man suffering from life-threatening leukemia, from a pending deportation case. His lawyer reports concerns about the inconsistent medical care he has received while detained since August.
Contreras-Cervantes, 33, has been living in the U.S. for about 20 years without legal status. He was taken into custody after a traffic stop in Macomb County, Michigan, on August 5, despite having no prior criminal record. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Michigan is now petitioning for a bond hearing that would allow him to return to his family and access appropriate medical treatment in the Detroit area.
Diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia, Contreras-Cervantes is reportedly facing a grim prognosis, with his doctors stating he has four to six years to live. His wife, Lupita Contreras, expressed concerns about his care, stating he was denied medication for 22 days during his transfer to various detention facilities.
An ACLU lawyer stated, We don’t just lock people up and throw away the key... Judges decide who should be behind bars. Immigration cases can take months or even years. They emphasize that denying bond hearings to individuals without criminal records is not only damaging but also a violation of their due process rights.
Contreras-Cervantes has been moved back and forth between Michigan and Ohio, leading to further distress regarding his health care. He is currently receiving substitute medication at a private detention center, North Lake Processing Center in Baldwin, Michigan, rather than the specific treatments prescribed by his doctors.
The ACLU has also filed a petition for bond hearings for others in similar situations, insisting that the treatment of undocumented immigrants must improve, as well as the fundamental right to due process.
The Department of Homeland Security has not provided any comments regarding the ongoing legal proceedings or the situation surrounding Contreras-Cervantes.
