Seattle ‘Dreamer’ won’t get immigration trial moved up

U.S. Magistrate Judge James Donohue blocked a request by Daniel Ramirez Medina’s lawyers, adding that the 23-year-old in custody was already on an expedited schedule.

“The court finds no basis to disturb the accelerated briefing schedule already set in this case,” Donohue wrote.

Oral arguments in the case have been scheduled for March 8. The defendant will remain in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s custody until then.

ICE agents arrested the “Dreamer” during national immigration enforcement operations on Feb. 10. The incident is the first known time officers have taken into custody a non-U.S. citizen who had legal permission from the Obama administration to remain in the country, prompting immigrant rights’ groups to worry that President Trump has begun to deport the 750,000 DACA recipients.

ICE denied those claims, stating it had detained Ramirez Medina because of his admitted gang ties. The suspect’s lawyers pushed back, denying he had ever made those admittances. The Department of Homeland Security then responded that the man’s statements were true and negated his status as a DACA recipient.

“Under Department of Homeland Security (DHS) policy, aliens granted deferred action from deportation who are subsequently found to pose a threat to national security or public safety may have their deferred action terminated at any time and DHS may seek their removal from the United States,” a DHS press release states.

Approximately 1,500 DACA recipients have had their status revoked due to a criminal conviction, gang affiliation or criminal conviction related to a gang affiliation.

Ramirez Medina illegally entered the U.S. from Mexico as a child and was later given a work permit to stay. While visiting his father’s home earlier this month, officers arrived to arrest his father, who is a previously deported felon, according to DHS.