Press Release
| August 19, 2009
Dewey & LeBoeuf's Efforts Lead to the Closure of Hutto Immigration Detention Center
(Houston, August 19, 2009) – Following one of the largest, most visible and most successful pro bono projects the firm has ever undertaken, Dewey & LeBoeuf, the American Civil Liberties Union and the University of Texas School of Law Immigration Clinic celebrated success with the news that the federal government will end family detention at the T. Don Hutto Immigration Detention Center.
Two years ago, a team of our lawyers fought for the rights of children being detained at the facility, a former medium-security prison, while their parents were awaiting decisions on asylum applications. We filed lawsuits in federal court based on the government's failure to provide fundamental human rights to the children and failure to abide by a prior agreement concerning the detention of immigrant children. Following a favorable ruling from the presiding judge, the government settled, released the children, made significant physical changes to the facility to eliminate its prison-like character and agreed to materially reform its policies affecting the detention of immigrant children at the facility.
"After our concerted and hard-fought effort on behalf of families detained at Hutto, the news that the federal government finally has decided to close this facility, which should never have been used to detain families, is fantastic," said Sean Gorman, managing partner of the firm's Houston office and lead partner on the case. "This outcome demonstrates that with time and relentless advocacy, our pro bono efforts make a difference. The abuse of power can be challenged, the voiceless heard and lives changed."
The decision to close Hutto is part of an overhaul of the nation’s immigration detention system announced August 6 by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
This memorandum is intended only as a general discussion of these issues. It is not considered to be legal advice. We would be pleased to provide additional details or advice about specific situations. For additional information on this important topic, please feel free to call upon your Dewey & LeBoeuf relationship partner. No part of this publication may be reproduced, in whole or in part, in any form, without our prior written consent.
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