DAY 4 - TUESDAY 

FEDERAL COURT, CONVERSATION WITH THE JUDGE, PUBLIC DEFENDER

A very early start for us today in El Paso. We left at 6:50 a.m. for the US District Court in Las Cruces, NM. We met another Immigration Immersion group led by Border Servant Corps, one of their members was ECLC member (and new Council President) Carrie's dad, Larry.


We saw about 8 defendants as they had their initial hearing for unlawful reentry after deportation. The judge had questions for each (they had two interpreters in the courtroom and one on a phone call), he asked them each if they had consulted with their attorney and understood the consequence of their plea. Everything moved very quickly and fairly. One case was delayed until the next day, the rest made their pleas and will soon get a date for sentencing.
 
After he was done with the morning docket, the Judge answered questions for us and explained the process.  


After a nice lunch and some time exploring Las Cruces we met back up with the group from Border Servant Corps for a presentation by a Public Defender.  She explained the different cases they see are primarily unlawful reentry after deportation and transporting undocumented immigrants.  They both have guidelines for sentencing that have escalating consequences for the number of times caught after being deported and past felony convictions.  

Julie Cahoy


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