RI ACLU Says Lilian Calderon Hearings Begin Monday In Boston

JOHNSTON, RI—The Rhode Island American Civil Liberties Union said Tuesday that the government conspired to trap undocumented people like Lilian Calderon. Calderon, who says she has been living in the U.S. since age 3 when her parents brought her here from Guatemala, was arrested in Johnston in January while trying to clear up her immigration status. Although under a final deportation order, Calderon was eligible to apply for citizenship as the wife of an American citizen, thanks to an Obama-era special exception. She was attempting to do that when immigration officials arrested her and took her to prison.

The ACLU took up her cause, and she was released and allowed to return to her family. Her case is still pending, however. In addition, the ACLU in Massachusetts filed a class action lawsuit against the Trump administration to help her and several others who are undocumented but have not broken any other laws. The ACLU case focuses on married couples who are being separated when one is detained.

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