A recent Mission Local story highlights how lawyers in San Francisco are using an old legal tool—habeas corpus petitions—in innovative ways to combat the growing trend of ICE arresting asylum seekers at immigration court. In one example, Keker, Van Nest & Peters attorneys Erin Meyer and Jonhatan Aragon likely saved one asylum seeker from deportation.
After a Colombian woman seeking asylum was detained outside the courtroom at 630 Sansome Street, her brother ran a block to Keker’s offices and pleaded for help in Spanish. Meyer and fellow attorney Jonhatan Aragon sprang into action and filed the habeas petition 24 hours after the arrest. They then filed for a temporary restraining order and despite a judge’s quick ruling to release the woman, ICE had already flown her to detention in Honolulu. They persevered into the night, advocating with ICE officials in Hawaii, arranging for the woman’s return flight, and ensuring her safe arrival back in California the next morning.
This legal strategy—traditionally used to free individuals held for months—is now being applied preemptively, often within hours of arrest. By arguing that recent ICE detentions lack due process and contradict prior assessments that asylum seekers are not flight risks, attorneys are securing swift judicial relief.
Keker is proud to support these pro bono efforts to uphold due process and reunite families.
Read the full story on Mission Local.