In brief
Jose Contreras-Cervantes, a 33-year-old undocumented immigrant detained since August, is battling chronic myeloid leukemia. His lawyer argues that the lack of adequate medical care in detention jeopardizes his health. The ACLU is advocating for his bond hearing to allow him to receive treatment with his family and doctor. This case highlights the impact of immigration policies enacted during the Trump administration, which restrict bond hearings for undocumented immigrants without a criminal record.
DETROIT — Federal authorities are refusing to release Jose Contreras-Cervantes, a Michigan man facing deportation, despite the serious health risks posed by his leukemia diagnosis. Contreras-Cervantes, who has been held since August, has faced inconsistent healthcare while awaiting a bond hearing that could allow him to return to his family and doctors.
The ACLU of Michigan is currently pursuing a bond hearing for him, emphasizing that his prolonged detention amidst ongoing treatment needs puts his life in jeopardy. Contreras-Cervantes is currently detained several hours away from his home in the Detroit area, complicating access to proper medical care.
At just 33 years old and a father of three, Contreras-Cervantes has spent nearly two decades living in the U.S. without legal status. He was apprehended following a traffic stop earlier this summer, despite having no prior criminal record according to ACLU attorney Miriam Aukerman.
His wife, Lupita, disclosed that doctors have given him a prognosis of only four to six years to live due to chronic myeloid leukemia, underscoring the urgency of his situation.
Current immigration policies established during the Trump administration restrict bond hearings for certain undocumented immigrants, including those with clean records. This policy has faced legal challenges, with a recent case in Washington state yielding supportive outcomes for bond hearings.
The ACLU argues that prolonged detention without sufficient healthcare access amounts to a violation of due process rights. “We don’t just lock people up and throw away the key,” said Aukerman, stressing that judges should be the ones determining detention, regardless of immigration status.
After being transferred between facilities without proper medical treatment for over three weeks, Contreras-Cervantes is now on a substitute medication at North Lake Processing Center instead of the specific drugs recommended by his healthcare providers.
In response to his situation, the ACLU filed a petition for bond hearings in U.S. District Court in Detroit, fighting for his right to receive appropriate medical care alongside his family.
“What the administration is trying to do is crush people’s spirits, attempting to coerce them into giving up and accepting deportation,” Aukerman concluded. “We’re here to ensure that they are afforded their due process rights.”
