Workers Threatened by DOJ
Reported by Jurist
Nearly 300 workers were sentenced to jail time and probation after making their pleas over the course of just four days in temporary courtrooms at a local fairground. The ACLU obtained a government manual that was issued to lawyers defending the workers. The manual apparently contained pre-printed forms and instructions for waiving the right to trial but no instructions for pleading not guilty. The ACLU alleged that the manual created a verbatim script for judges written before before the raid on the workers even occurred. The American Immigration Lawyers Association has also criticized the government for the severity of the charges and alleged due process violations.