SF Gate–

Two Mexican nationals with families in the Bay Area who have been jailed in Richmond for more than six months sued the federal government Tuesday, arguing they have a right to bond hearings while pursuing asylum cases.

The ACLU and a trio of law firms representing the immigrants say the pair are not alone. They are seeking class-action status on behalf of hundreds of others who may be in similar legal limbo.

Both of the men, Esteban Aleman Gonzalez and Jose Eduardo Gutierrez Sanchez, had re-entered the United States after an initial deportation. That would usually give the government the ability to quickly re-deport them without judicial review.

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