Rick was referred to PAIFUP in June 2025. Rick came to the United States on a fiancé visa, to reunite with his US citizen fiancé and stepchildren in December 2024, with the plan to live permanently in the United States as a family. Rick and his wife married in January 2025. The couple saved money and gathered the necessary evidence for Rick to file for his green card. But, before they could file, he was arrested by ICE. While in ICE custody, Rick filed the required documentation to pursue a green card based on his marriage to his US citizen wife and he applied for asylum, because of persecution in his home country. In Rick's home country, he was enslaved, targeted by armed groups, and beaten. As Rick diligently gathered evidence and worked to prepare his case, the Immigration Court unilaterally advanced his hearing by over 50 days, suddenly giving him less than two weeks to finalize and submit all evidence. This was part of a nationwide effort to accelerate detained cases and wreak havoc on an already burdened system. His attorneys filed numerous motions for more time so Rick could gather more evidence, but all were denied. Fortunately, Rick was granted a bond and released from custody just a few days before his final hearing in detention. Now that he has his liberty, he will be transferred to a different docket and will have additional time to prepare his case.

The ACLU of Pennsylvania has been actively responding to the rapidly-changing landscape for immigrants' rights through litigation and advocacy. We have brought lawsuits challenging various immigration enforcement tactics, including the arrest of a high schooler after an immigration court hearing; the unlawful detention of a Temporary Protected Status-holder; and the application of the Alien Enemies Act to Venezuelans detained in Pennsylvania. We also have a number of active lawsuits under the Freedom of Information Act and Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law, seeking records related to immigration detention conditions and ICE activity in Pennsylvania. As part of our work to disentangle local communities from the immigration enforcement machine, we are suing the Bucks County sheriff for entering into a 287(g) agreement to collaborate with ICE. And we have focused on strengthening local protections for noncitizens - including collaborating with coalition partners to push for the adoption of welcoming policies in counties, municipalities, and schools across the commonwealth. 

Thank you, ACLU of Pennsylvania, for your tireless work on behalf of immigrant communities across the state!