Case: Aguilar-Ayala v. Ruiz

1:88-cv-00012 | U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas

Filed Date: Jan. 27, 1988

Closed Date: 1988

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

On January 27, 1988, two detained aliens filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus and class action complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, challenging the federal government's practice of detaining them and other similarly situated aliens as material witnesses for the criminal prosecution of those persons charged with transporting them across the border. Plaintiffs claimed that their continued detention violated their constitutional rights. The plaintiffs …

On January 27, 1988, two detained aliens filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus and class action complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, challenging the federal government's practice of detaining them and other similarly situated aliens as material witnesses for the criminal prosecution of those persons charged with transporting them across the border. Plaintiffs claimed that their continued detention violated their constitutional rights. The plaintiffs sought class certification and an injunction barring the government from detaining alien-witnesses for longer than ten days where a deposition would adequately preserve the criminal defendant's right to confrontation under the Sixth Amendment.

The petitioners had been arrested in Falfurrias, Texas, on November 14, 1987, shortly after they entered this country illegally. They were allegedly detained as material witnesses in connection with the criminal prosecutions of their smugglers. The petitioners objected to their detention and the Justice Department was ordered to depose them or release them from custody. Before they were released, their custody was transferred to the INS for deportation proceedings. Plaintiffs then filed this action. Shortly thereafter, they were released from custody, but they continued the lawsuit.

The government moved to dismiss the case, maintaining that the aliens had been detained for deportation under Immigration and Nationality Act and not as material witnesses.

The District Court did not rule on the government's motion. Instead, on July 15, 1988, the District Court entered an order in the case, which was adopted as a standing order governing the handling of all material witnesses in the Brownsville Division of the Southern District of Texas. The order was patterned after the one entered in In re Class Action Application for Habeas Corpus ex rel. All Material Witnesses in the Western District of Texas, 612 F.Supp. 940 (W.D.Tex.1985) [IM-TX-26] and set procedures including: (1) that the witness, government, or criminal defendant could move to depose a material witness; (2) that the deposition would be taken within 10 days of a magistrate's order to do so; (3) that a detention order by a magistrate be reviewable by a district court and (4) that the witness be released after 45 days absent a district court ruling that further detention is necessary.

Following that order, plaintiffs moved for an award if attorney fees. The District Court denied the request and plaintiffs appealed. The Firth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed. Aguilar-Ayala v. Ruiz, 973 F.2d 411 (5th Cir. 1988).

Summary Authors

Katie Goodenberger (8/27/2007)

Related Cases

In re Class Action Application for Habeas Corpus on Behalf of All Material Witnesses in Western Dist. of Texas, Western District of Texas (1983)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/13679443/parties/ayala-v-ruiz/


Judge(s)

Davis, W. Eugene (Louisiana)

Goldberg, Irving Loeb (Louisiana)

Higginbotham, Patrick Errol (Texas)

Attorney for Plaintiff
Attorney for Defendant

Ayala, David (Texas)

Tomecek, Marianne (Texas)

Judge(s)

Davis, W. Eugene (Louisiana)

Goldberg, Irving Loeb (Louisiana)

Higginbotham, Patrick Errol (Texas)

Vela, Filemon Bartolome (Texas)

Attorney for Plaintiff

show all people

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

1:88-cv-00012

Docket [PACER]

Ayala v. Ruiz

July 17, 1990

July 17, 1990

Docket

91-02848

Opinion

U. S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit

Sept. 25, 1992

Sept. 25, 1992

Order/Opinion

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/13679443/ayala-v-ruiz/

Last updated Jan. 25, 2024, 3:16 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link

Case closed (ogutierrez)

July 17, 1990

July 17, 1990

PACER

Case Details

State / Territory: Texas

Case Type(s):

Immigration and/or the Border

Key Dates

Filing Date: Jan. 27, 1988

Closing Date: 1988

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

A group of undocumented aliens who challenged the practice of detaining alien witnesses rather than deposing and releasing them

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Public Interest Lawyer: Unknown

Filed Pro Se: Unknown

Class Action Sought: Yes

Class Action Outcome: Unknown

Defendants

Department of Justice, Federal

Case Details

Causes of Action:

Habeas Corpus, 28 U.S.C. §§ 2241-2253; 2254; 2255

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Any published opinion

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Plaintiff

Nature of Relief:

Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement

Source of Relief:

Litigation

Order Duration: 1988 - 0

Issues

Jails, Prisons, Detention Centers, and Other Institutions:

Habeas Corpus

Immigration/Border:

Constitutional rights

Criminal prosecution

Detention - criteria

Detention - procedures