Judge denies immigration protesters' asylum claim

| November 1, 2013

EL PASO, Texas (AP) — A West Texas judge has denied requests for asylum by two immigrants who surrendered to U.S. authorities at the border with Mexico in September to protest federal immigration policies.

Lawyer David Bennion said Friday that he'll request the judge's order be suspended on behalf of his clients, Jose Alfredo Cornejo and Brandon Pena Valencia. But he acknowledged that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement "can just deny or ignore" the request.

One of the 25 immigrants detained in El Paso in September previously was deported.

Authorities on Tuesday released 11 people from that group of young immigrants, who were brought to the U.S. as children but are not citizens.

They are called "dreamers" in reference to the Dream Act that would grant immigrants like them lawful status in the U.S.

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