Punjabis detained in Texas - US Congman assures to look into the matter
Tuesday, 06/05/2014
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2014/20140506/punjab.htm#23
Chandigarh : To seek the release of more than 100 Punjabi youths, detained “illegally” in the El Paso processing centre (jail) in Texas, US, a delegation of the North American Punjabi Association (NAPA) met Congressman John Garamendi at his house in California and sought his support.
The delegation led by NAPA chairman Dalwinder Singh Dhoot apprised Garamendi that the detainees remained on hunger strike for more than a week to demand their release on parole or on bond. The strike was called off after the NAPA intervened.
The NAPA members told the Congressman that as per the rules and regulations of the US Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE), any such detainee could not be detained for more than six months.
The ICE authorities should follow the protocol to release the detainees on parole or on bond, the delegation demanded.
The NAPA demanded that the cases should be transferred from the 5th Circuit Court to the 9th Circuit Court. Congressman Garamendi assured the NAPA that he had directed his office in Washington DC to look into the issue seriously.
The Legislative Director Liz (Shelton) Crow of Congressman Garamendi (CA-03) office had been designated to keep in touch with NAPA executive director Satnam Singh Chahal to ensure that justice is delivered to the detainees.
