In brief
Jose Contreras-Cervantes, a 33-year-old undocumented immigrant and father of three, has been detained since August despite suffering from chronic myeloid leukemia. His attorney argues that his extended detention without proper medical care is a violation of his rights. The ACLU of Michigan has filed for bond hearings to allow him to receive medical treatment from his family while navigating his immigration case in court.
DETROIT - In a troubling case that highlights the intersection of immigration policy and medical care, federal authorities continue to detain Jose Contreras-Cervantes, a Michigan man diagnosed with life-threatening leukemia. His situation has prompted the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Michigan to seek a bond hearing in an effort to secure his release and allow him to receive proper medical treatment.
Contreras-Cervantes, 33, was apprehended following a traffic stop on August 5 in Macomb County, where he has lived for nearly two decades without legal documentation. Despite having no criminal record and being a devoted father of three, he has since been moved to a detention center approximately three hours away, complicating his access to family and medical professionals.
His wife, Lupita Contreras, revealed that his prognosis is grim, with doctors estimating he has just four to six years to live due to his chronic myeloid leukemia. “He needs to be with us and receive the treatment he requires,” she stated, highlighting the inconsistency and inadequacy of medical care within the detention system.
Currently, Contreras-Cervantes is receiving substitute medication at North Lake Processing Center after being without his prescribed treatment for 22 days. This has raised serious concerns over his health and overall well-being. ACLU attorney Miriam Aukerman criticized the current immigration policies that prevent timely bond hearings for undocumented immigrants, stating, “Judges decide who should be behind bars — that is true for citizens and noncitizens alike.”
In response to the inadequate treatment and prolonged detention, the ACLU has filed a petition in U.S. District Court in Detroit, advocating for bond hearings for Contreras-Cervantes and other detainees in similar circumstances. The organization's challenges to these policies underscore the broader implications for individuals facing deportation who are also dealing with critical health issues.
As the proceedings continue, ACLU representatives emphasize the urgent need for compassion and due process in immigration cases, asserting, “What the administration is doing is trying to crush people’s spirits... We’re saying no. They’re entitled to due process.”
