High Court Halts Deportation of Foreign Workers` Children
The High Court of Justice on Friday issued an injunction against the planned deportation of minors and relatives of illegal foreign workers after a petition was filed by the Association of Civil Rights in Israel and the advocate group Hotline for Migrant Workers.
The appeal, which was filed against the Interior Minister, calls for nullifying the government-sanctioned criteria for granting permanent residency status to children of foreign workers.
The injunction applies specifically to families who submit a request for permanent residency status to the Interior Ministry – even if those families do not meet the criteria – prior to the end of March 2006 and on condition that the minor has reached the age of 10 by that time.
The panel of justices led by Supreme Court President Aharon Barak issued the injunction after a deliberation on the matter at the start of this past week. The state prosecutor argued before the court that the requests for permanent residency be submitted no later than the end of this month.
The attorney for ACRI, Michal Pinchuk, countered the state`s position, claiming that foreign workers` families are unable to obtain the required documents in such a short period of time.
last updated : 21/12/05
