Hundreds of deported immigrants could return to US

MGN

LOS ANGELES (AP) – A settlement has cleared the way for hundreds of deported immigrants with mental disabilities to have their cases reopened and return to the U.S.

Federal Judge Dolly M. Gee in Los Angeles approved the settlement Friday. The ruling applies to immigrants with mental disabilities deported from the U.S. after being forced to represent themselves in court.

The ruling covers immigrants deported from California, Arizona and Washington between Nov. 21, 2011, and Jan. 27.

The ACLU of Southern California is one of the groups that filed the 2010 lawsuit that led to the settlement

The group says the federal government has identified 900 immigrants who could benefit from the ruling, though there could be more. Many of those affected are Latino, but the ACLU says it’s unclear how many.

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