How to attack an ICE detainer -- a discussion

ICE Attorneys contemplating detainer law...or lack of it.

From a recent question by a fellow practioner -- worth sharing!

FACTS
Client given a 30 sentence in county jail with a 5 consecutive days at beginning and 13 weekends thereafter as per the County Judge's Order. TWO days before his released Martin County Fla Jail notified ICE (they have a detainer agreement) of the client's release. client is now being held him until ICE transfers him to a detention center.

I called the jail and demanded his release but was told by a sgt. that "it is a standing order by all judges" that whenever a detainer is placed by ICE, the detainee's sentence is to be served consecutively (rather than the weekends as per the judge's order) and at the end of it ICE will take him. I asked him where THAT came from and he said they have always done it like that. I asked him again for the law/authority and he told me to check with the judge.

I explained the detainer is good for 48 hrs only. He said they have the detainer and an ICE WARRANT. I asked for a faxed copy and sgt said NO. I called ICE and was told he is not yet processed and no DO has been assigned to case.

QUESTION
Is this true?

First, there are a couple of minor corrections I would point out. The IJ (immigration judge) does not sign a warrant. A warrant has to be signed by a federal or state judge after hearing (or reading) a statement of probable cause to believe a crime has or is occurring, and the warrant address that specific aspect of the crime (different types of warrants, obviously). Because an IJ lacks authority to hold a probable cause determination, they won’t be handing out warrants. It would be great fun if they did…talk about a federal case on its face! It is very rare indeed that any judge issues a warrant to ICE, as a state judge really wouldn’t have standing, and a federal judge rarely has time. It does happen for drug, gang, and trafficking cases, where ICE special units conduct raids. But most practitioners won’t run into this in the normal course of ops, and most of those cases end up in Federal Court anyway. It is more common to see a state police officer, with a state warrant, accompanying ICE officers (joint investigation). But again, that is usually for more severe cases.

Now ICE does issue detainers. A detainer is a demand, based on Federal Law, for a state or local authority to hold an illegal alien until immigration can pick him/her up. It is strictly an internal document, and the Agency jealousy guards them as TOP SECRET. Really, all that is on there is a phone number for a duty ICE agent. Unlike almost every other ICE/EOIR/DHS phone number, they actual answer that line quickly. They get really really mad if you call it. It’s good fun! You should try it sometime (assuming you can get a copy of an ICE detainer doc). The problem with detainers is that a state court has no authority over them (federal admin law), and the jail doesn’t really know what to do with them. BUT..state court does have authority over your fella’s detention. So if the jail holds him beyond 48 hours AFTER his sentence is over, then you have a habeas action and should file it right pronto. That usually makes the jail spit your guy out…but it’s a race between ICE and that hearing. If the jail plays hardball, by the time you’re up in Court, detainee is long gone to ICE hell.

What really got me chuckling was the jail’s unilateral modification of the criminal sentence. While it makes sense (i.e. don’t let a person out of jail who has an ICE detainer), it conflates Federal immigration law (immigration detainer) with speculation (ye olde flight) with a healthy dose of “you can’t change a state judge’s order just because.” Sounds to me like the Warden of the jail has taken immigration consequences into his own hands. Interestin’…

You have a pick of tools to go after the Warden. There’s the ol’ “Show Cause” order which, rarely, has a place in criminal law (outside of probation violations), but is quite tasty in this case. After all, the state is violating the Judge’s order. You can file a writ of mandamus to order the jail to honor the judge’s order. You can file a habeas action (obviously – for detention of your fella outside the bounds of the court order).

You’ll lose on them all, though. It would be great fun to tweek the jail, though! You lose because, ultimately, the jail has authority to modify the nature of the detention, so long as the length of the detention remains unchanged. For example, the jail could put your guy in solitary for violating jail rules. That would not take a court order to effect, even though it changes the nature of the detention. A jail has wide latitude to control the safety and security of its prisoners, and the state. But…you might get lucky!

Do you have a problem with how the Government has treated you? Call us! We're happy to discuss your case, and see if you have a claim. We can be reached at 1-800-579-9864 or admin@hanoverlawpc.com.

Hanover Law, PC
Offices in Fairfax (VA), Resiterstown (MD), and Washington (DC)
www.hanoverlawpc.com
Central Office: 2751 Prosperity Ave, Ste 150 Fairfax, VA 22031	Sean R. Hanover, Esq. Stephen Salwierak, Esq. Charlet Herr, Practice Manager
1-800-579-9864 admin@hanoverlawpc.com

How to resolve an outstanding arrest warrant

Today's post is rather short. A question that we often run into in criminal law deals with warrants. This recent question on a law bulletin board we participate on is typical:

I have a parole violation warrant an would like to know how I should turn myself in. How do I do this?

Great question! There are generally three methods for resolving an outstanding warrant.

• (1) you are picked up by the police
• (2) you turn yourself in to the local police stations
• (3) you hire an attorney to make a motion on the docket of the local court, and ask that the arrest warrant be withdrawn (recalled, vacated, or dismissed) and a return date be given.

As you might imagine, option 1 is not desirable, as that almost always results in jail. In DC, I would always get an attorney to file on the docket (option 3). You don't want to sit in jail awaiting a hearing date on your parole violation. This is especially true if you believe they may revoke parole. In that case, you'll sit in jail until the actual parole violation hearing, likely you will not get another bond pending the trial on your parole violation (although, you can).

The term "return date" is legal jargon. It means a new date when you appear in Court for the judge to rule on the arrest warrant, and then to set the appropriate term of your continuing parole and/or violation hearing. Be cautious of the Bail Reform Act that can cause serious problems if you violate a return to court order. If you think that may have happened, you need to contact counsel immediately, as such a violation could result in up to 5 years in jail.

If you need help with getting your parole violation and arrest warrant resolved, give us a call! 703-402-2723.

Hanover Law, PC
Offices in Fairfax, VA and Washington, DC
www.hanoverlawpc.com
2751 Prosperity Ave, Ste 150 Fairfax, VA 22031	Sean R. Hanover, Esq. Stephen Salwierak, Esq.
1-800-579-9864 admin@hanoverlawpc.com

Getting an Arrest Warrant dismissed - how to quash

The errors in my warrant of arrest are that they put the wrong address and phone number for me, so I was never contacted or interrogated in regards to the charge. I was actually filing charges against my ex, when someone at the police station told me about the charge 8 months after the alleged incident. SMH. I'm filing a motion to dismiss. What should I cite to really make a strong argument for a motion to dismiss? There's so many flaws on the prosecution's side. Plus the police officer put the wrong date for the alleged incident on the police report. There is a different date for the alleged incident on the police report and the warrant of arrest.

Generally, you won't be successful on quashing an arrest warrant, no matter how defective. However, once your arrest is processed, you can then challenge the charges, etc. at your initial detention hearing. In VA, you will be seen by the magistrate when you are initially "booked." A bond will be set (unless your crime is particularly notorious), and once paid, you will be released with a return court date. That return date is called an arraignment, and it is at that point you can challenge the arrest.

The discrepancy between the police report, and the arrest warrant is fertile ground for examining the detective or police officer during a preliminary hearing. However, if this is a domestic violence charge (assault on a family member, for example), then you won't have a preliminary hearing, as most DV charges are misdemeanors. Although in VA, you can get a jury trial in just about every criminal instance, a preliminary hearing is limited to felony charges only.

A motion for judgment of acquittal (that's the federal term), or motion to strike charges, usually does not succeed when there is any evidence of an underlying crime -- and it sounds like there was a police report that did list the accurate times, dates, people. In those instances, the court will want to hear from the aggrieved party for the specific reason of not wanting to dismiss a valid case based on a clerical error, or police typo. The question is: was their an underlying offense? Put a different way, if the Court was to dismiss the information (that's the piece of paper that lists the misdemeanor charges) because it had the wrong dates, etc., the prosecutor could just refile, based on the police reports, with the correct dates. It would waste the Court's time, your time, and the police officer's time.

Is there an instance when an arrest warrant can be quashed, or set aside? Absolutely. When the arrest warrant has the wrong person named, or the wrong crime charged. Those are the two most common causes for setting aside a charge. The fact there is an incorrect date, or that you were not interviewed would not, per se, invalidate a warrant. They are certainly not required to speak with you or seek your permission before obtaining a warrant. And a date can be a typo.

When the arrest warrant fails to cite a specific element of the crime (i.e. show probable cause that the crime was committed through an arrest affidavit), that can be used at the preliminary hearing to show failure to demonstrate an element of the crime, which in turn negates the charge. However, that is usually easily overcome by the officer on the stand.

To properly move forward, you need an attorney. You simply lack the training to recognize the best tactic, as this is your first time through the system. No one get's this right the first time! It sounds like you need to turn yourself in, get processed and release on bail or your own recognizance, and then kick this charge when you're in front of the judge. Give us a ring! We can help with this.

Hanover Law, PC
Offices in Fairfax, VA and Washington, DC
www.hanoverlawpc.com
2751 Prosperity Ave, Ste 150 Fairfax, VA 22031	Sean R. Hanover, Esq. Stephen Salwierak, Esq.
1-800-579-9864 admin@hanoverlawpc.com