Letter to Michael Chertoff Regarding the LA Eight

National Lawyers Guild Letter to Michael Chertoff Regarding the LA Eight

February 17, 2007
Secretary Michael Chertoff
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Washington, DC 20528

Dear Secretary Chertoff:

I write on behalf of the National Lawyers Guild to urge you to not seek an appeal in the twenty-year old deportation cases of Khader Hamide and Michel Shehadeh. The Guild believes that continued proceedings against these two individuals will not serve justice and will only continue to unnecessarily divert important government resources.

For over two decades, the government has engaged in ongoing efforts to deport Mr. Hamide and Mr. Shehadeh, the two remaining respondents in the case of the so-called “LA Eight.” These two men engaged in political activities that, had they been U.S. citizens, would clearly be protected by the First Amendment—political speech in support of Palestinian rights. Since 1987, the government has argued that Hamide and Shehadeh’s lawful free speech activities, including distributing newspapers, participating in demonstrations and organizing humanitarian aid fund raisers for Palestinians in the Middle East warrants their permanent removal from this country.

Since the outset of the case the government has admitted that these two permanent residents of Los Angeles have not engaged in criminal activity. Yet Mr. Hamide and Mr. Shehadeh have been tied up in deportation proceedings for 20 years, and their case has reached every level of federal court, including the U.S. Supreme Court. The basis for pursuing deportation proceedings since 1987 has been their support at that time of the Popular Liberation Front for Palestine (“PFLP”), a group within the Palestinian Liberation Organization.

In response, repeatedly the courts have ruled against the government’s deportation efforts, most recently dismissing the cases due to governmental misconduct and unwarranted delay.

The government has until the end of this month to appeal. The Guild believes there can be no legitimate interest in seeking the deportation of two individuals who have never engaged in any activity that violates the laws of this country or that poses any threat to our national security. Twenty years ago these two men were politically active students, just as were thousands of others around the country. Today they have families and wish only to continue living as law abiding members of our society.

I ask that you allow Mr. Hamide and Mr. Shehadeh to resume their lives, and devote precious government resources to cases that will impact our collective national security.

Sincerely,

Marjorie Cohn
President

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