In a major development in U.S. immigration policy, 276 immigrants from former Soviet countries have filed a lawsuit against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), alleging systematic discrimination in detention practices. The lawsuit, filed in November 2024, reveals what attorneys are calling the “Russian Detention & Deterrence Scheme.”
According to court documents, nearly half of the plaintiffs are currently held in Louisiana facilities, where they claim ICE is implementing an unwritten policy of deliberately denying release to Russian-speaking asylum seekers. The South Louisiana ICE Processing Center reportedly houses 550 Russian speakers out of 800 total detainees, highlighting the scale of the alleged discrimination.
The case has brought attention to the plight of individuals like Sofia, a Russian national who, despite following all proper asylum procedures and sharing a sponsor with her released husband, remains in detention after seven months. “No one ever explained to us what is happening and what will happen [next] and what we should do,” Sofia revealed, describing her experience in ICE detention. Her frustration culminated in a heartfelt plea: “I just hope that the judge will see the situation how it really is now and that he could do something so that we don’t have to spend even more months here just waiting.”
The lawsuit contends that ICE’s actions violate both federal law and the Fifth Amendment, particularly regarding a 2009 Department of Homeland Security directive requiring individual reviews of parole requests. The plaintiffs will seek a preliminary injunction on February 14, 2025, requesting mandatory individual reviews of their release requests.
Legal experts note that if successful, the injunction may only benefit the named plaintiffs, as a 2022 Supreme Court ruling prevents federal district courts from granting broader injunctive relief in immigration cases.
ICE representatives have not yet responded to requests for comment on these allegations.
