Last weekend, five Black immigrants three Nigerians and two Gambians — were deported from the United States even though federal judges had granted them legal protection from removal. Some had “withholding of removal” orders under the Immigration and Nationality Act; others had “deferrals of removal” under the U.N. Convention Against Torture. Both forms of relief mean U.S. courts have decided that deporting the individual would likely result in persecution or torture abroad.
Despite these orders, the men were taken from various ICE detention centers and flown to Ghana, where they are now being held in a detention camp. Their families in Atlanta were left stunned and afraid, asking how such a blatant violation of due process could happen in 2025.
For readers unfamiliar with immigration law, these protections exist to prevent the U.S. from violating its human-rights obligations. Deporting someone under such an order is not an error, it’s a breach of both domestic and international law.
Recognizing the danger these men face, Atlanta’s chapter of Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAAJ), the ACLU Immigrants’ Rights Project, and the law firm Grossman, Young & Hammond filed an emergency lawsuit to stop the repatriations and bring the men home. Their legal filings detail how ICE ignored binding court orders and bypassed established procedures.
In interviews, attorneys describe the case as emblematic of a larger pattern. “Black immigrants are disproportionately targeted for aggressive enforcement,” one advocate noted, “and when their rights are violated, it rarely makes the headlines.”
Critics have long accused ICE of racial bias. Although Black immigrants make up a small percentage of the non-citizen population, they are significantly more likely to be placed in solitary confinement, denied bond, and deported for minor infractions. The unlawful deportations of the five men are not isolated incidents but part of a broader erosion of the rule of law when it comes to Black and African immigrants.
Inside Atlanta’s Black immigrant neighborhoods, fear is palpable. Even those with legal status worry they could be next. Families are living with the trauma of separation and the knowledge that a court order might not be enough to protect their loved ones. Churches, community centers, and mutual-aid groups have begun mobilizing to support those left
This isn’t only an immigration issue; it’s a constitutional one. If federal agencies can ignore a judge’s order for Black immigrants today, it sets a precedent for ignoring court orders tomorrow — for anyone. Upholding due process is not a special favor for non-citizens; it’s the foundation of a functioning democracy.
Atlanta has long been a hub for organizing against injustice. The current fight — to bring these five men back and hold ICE accountable — sits squarely within that tradition. By challenging these deportations, local lawyers are sending a broader message: the rule of law must apply equally to everyone, regardless of race or immigration status.
Educating yourself and others about how the immigration system really works is the first step. Support local legal-aid groups, attend community forums, and contact your representatives. Demand transparency and accountability from agencies whose power over people’s lives is immense and largely unchecked.
The bottom line is Atlanta’s legal advocates are fighting not just for five men stranded in Ghana but for the principle that in America, court orders still matter. Their struggle reminds us that defending due process and human dignity is not only a legal battle but a moral one and that Atlanta remains on the front lines.
Source: Capital B Atlanta
Add comment
Comments