Massachusetts judge halts factory workers’ deportation

A Massachusetts judge on Friday temporarily barred federal officials from deporting a large group of illegal immigrants snared in a factory raid last month.

U.S. District Court Judge Richard Stearns granted the emergency request from lawyers for the detained immigrants, who argued that about 110 of 360 workers arrested may have agreed to waive an appeal of their deportation order under duress or with improper translators.

The judge’s order lasts for 10 days and does not apply to detainees that already had been ordered deported before they were arrested in the March 6 raid at the Michael Bianco Inc. factory in New Bedford. The company makes equipment and apparel for the U.S. military.

Attorneys for the detainees argue that federal immigration officials tried to hurry the deportation process and separate the former Massachusetts workers from their lawyers and families by taking many of them to holding centers in Texas.

“I think [the judge] was troubled by the government not being more flexible in this,” said Bernard J. Bonn III, an attorney for the detainees.

Mark Grady, an assistant U.S. attorney, argued at a hearing Friday that Massachusetts had limited bed space to hold detained immigrants and that their removal was not meant to manipulate the process of deportation.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials have continually said they have not denied legal counsel to any of the detainees.