On February 7, U.S. District Judge George J. Hazel of Maryland issued a ruling that would protect Maryland residents who are seeking their green card from arrest or deportation while their case is ongoing. The judge’s decision also required Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to release Maryland residents who were in detention and in an ongoing immigration procedure to attain a green card or other legal authorization.
The case was brought by the ACLU, representing six Maryland couples, after reports that Maryland ICE agents were inviting immigrants to green card interviews and then arresting them, scheduling deportation.