Kofi Kyei, 38, of Ghana, is suing the US government, Oregon INS director David Beebe, INS officers and Yamhill County for $5 million. The suit, filed Aug. 23, alleges that Kyei was illegally imprisoned and subjected to cruel and unusual punishment.
Kyei claims INS officers arrested him Aug. 25, 1999, in order to deport him, even though they knew a federal judge had issued a stay of deportation the same morning. Kyei claims he was deprived of adequate food, clothing and medical care before Sept. 23, 1999, when a judge ordered the INS to release him.
Kyei, who has lived in the United States since 1984, also is trying to resolve his U.S. residency status with a separate federal lawsuit.
An international religious group and its matriarch are also suing Beebe, the federal government and other current and former INS officials, alleging that the agency wrongfully arrested, jailed, strip-searched and deported its top minister.
A Chinese businesswoman who sued the federal government and Portland immigration officers for strip-searching and jailing her reached a $250,000 settlement.
These cases only furthered the Portland immigration service's reputation for treating foreign visitors badly in a city that had already earned itself the nickname "Deportland" among Asian travelers.
After intense criticism from business and political leaders, Oregon INS director David Beebe retired, and the new leadership began making reforms.
Ron Smith, an INS regional official who investigated the agency's Portland district and recommended reforms, began work Monday as Beebe's successor.
Kofi Kyei, 38, of Ghana, is suing the US government, Oregon INS director David Beebe, INS officers and Yamhill County for $5 million. The suit, filed Aug. 23, alleges that Kyei was illegally imprisoned and subjected to cruel and unusual punishment.
Kyei claims INS officers arrested him Aug. 25, 1999, in order to deport him, even though they knew a federal judge had issued a stay of deportation the same morning. Kyei claims he was deprived of adequate food, clothing and medical care before Sept. 23, 1999, when a judge ordered the INS to release him.
Kyei, who has lived in the United States since 1984, also is trying to resolve his U.S. residency status with a separate federal lawsuit.
An international religious group and its matriarch are also suing Beebe, the federal government and other current and former INS officials, alleging that the agency wrongfully arrested, jailed, strip-searched and deported its top minister.
A Chinese businesswoman who sued the federal government and Portland immigration officers for strip-searching and jailing her reached a $250,000 settlement.
These cases only furthered the Portland immigration service's reputation for treating foreign visitors badly in a city that had already earned itself the nickname "Deportland" among Asian travelers.
After intense criticism from business and political leaders, Oregon INS director David Beebe retired, and the new leadership began making reforms.
Ron Smith, an INS regional official who investigated the agency's Portland district and recommended reforms, began work Monday as Beebe's successor.
