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Lawsuit Filed Over Immigrant Access To Lawyers

  A coalition of lawyers has filed a lawsuit against federal immigration authorities, claiming detainees at a New Mexico detention center aren't getting proper legal representation.

The American Civil Liberties Union announced Friday it filed the federal lawsuit to get U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to change its policies that quickly deport immigrants without attorneys.

The ACLU and other legal groups say a lack of due process for Central American women and children detained in the isolated town of Artesia isn't allowing them to present their cases for asylum. They say the Artesia center has turned into a "deportation mill" because of the barriers in place that stop immigrants from having lawyers.

The Associated Press sent an email to an ICE spokeswoman seeking comment.

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