HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) — A federal court in Harrisburg lifted a stay, upholding its decision from earlier this week that ordered the release of 20 people currently held in immigration detention in two county facilities in Pennsylvania.
Federal district Judge John E. Jones III issued the ruling after considering a motion to reconsider filed by the U.S. attorneys’ office, who represents Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
On Tuesday, Judge Jones ruled that the 22 people who filed the lawsuit must be released but issued a stay of his own ruling after ICE filed its motion, leaving all of the plaintiffs incarcerated.
The ACLU says the 20 plaintiffs are all at heightened risk of serious illness and death if they contract COVID-19 due to age, underlying serious health conditions, or both. In response to the filing by ICE, the plaintiffs’ attorneys filed their own brief indicating that conditions at both the York County Prison and the Pike County Correctional Facility have worsened in recent weeks. In their brief, the plaintiffs stated that they have gone days without being resupplied with soap, that in both jails people without symptoms of COVID-19 are being housed with people with symptoms, and that masks and hand sanitizer are not distributed to people in detention.
Continue Reading on ABC 27