Immigrant Entitled to Bond Hearing as Removal Process Plays Out

A lawful permanent resident of the U.S. is entitled to a bond hearing now that his removal proceedings have dragged on more than two-and-a-half years, the Third Circuit said Tuesday.

The length of Jose German-Santos’s detention has become unreasonable and the government must explain by clear and convincing evidence why it’s still necessary, the court said in an opinion by Judge Stephanos Bibas.

After German-Santos, who is from the Dominican Republic, pleaded guilty to possession of marijuana with intent to deliver, immigration officials arrested him and began removal proceedings.

German-Santos was held under 8 U.S.C. §1226(c), and in Jennings ...