December 30, 2013 11:38 AM


A federal judge in New York judge is scolding the government for failing to give a civil rights group documents about thousands of immigrant detainees held for months or years. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)

NEW YORK (AP) — A federal judge in New York judge is scolding the government for failing to give a civil rights group documents about thousands of immigrant detainees held for months or years.

Judge Richard Berman’s ruling Monday came after government attorneys insisted last week they need more time to reveal information.

The American Civil Liberties Union says it wants to expose a flawed system that keeps thousands of detainees behind bars long periods while their eligibility to remain in the country is adjudicated.

Berman said he hopes the government is not “trying to hide or obscure a distressing system or set of facts.”

The ACLU sued in Manhattan federal court in 2011. The group is seeking documents from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

http://washington.cbslocal.com/2013/...ocs-from-aclu/