FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
February 25, 2009
CONTACT:
Brandon Hensler, Director of Communications, (786) 363-2737 or media@aclufl.org
View photos of our rally here.
ORLANDO, Fla. – The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida will participate in a news conference at noon on Wednesday, February 25, 2009 at the Immigration Court in Orlando, FL. Rita “Fany” Cote, a Tavares mother of three young children, was arrested unlawfully and held without charges for over a week in the Lake County jail. Only after the ACLU of Florida filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus on her behalf in federal court on Monday and the court issued an Order to Show Cause why she should not be released did the county try to cover up its misconduct by transferring her to Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.
WHEN: WEDNESDAY, Feb. 25 at NOON
WHERE: The Immigration Court, 80 North Hughey Avenue, Ste 203
WHO: Glenn Katon, ACLU of Florida Senior Attorney; John Barry, Cote's Immigration attorney; and Community activists
The officers were called to Cote’s home by her sister, a victim of domestic violence, but the officers ignored the sister’s report in violation of Florida law and chose to effect an unlawful of Cote instead.
Cote is now in ICE custody and is seeking review of her case by an immigration judge. Community leaders are rallying in support of her and her family. Robert Cote, Fany’s husband, and their children will be present tomorrow, along with ACLU senior attorney Glenn Katon, her attorney in the federal case, and John Barry, her immigration counsel.
(learn more here: http://aclufl.org/news_events/?action=viewRelease&emailAlertID=3702)
About the ACLU of Florida
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Florida is freedom's watchdog, working daily in the courts, legislatures and communities to defend individual rights and personal freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. For additional information, visit our Web site at: www.aclufl.org.
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