Family demands release of El Salvadorian immigrant

ADELANTO, Calif. (KABC) -- The family of an El Salvadorian immigrant who has been imprisoned for five years is demanding his release.

Raul Ernesto Morales was arrested by immigration officials in 2010.

His brother, Carlos Morales, said it's been difficult for Raul, who has not been able to be with his children since he was incarcerated.

"The United States government falsely stated that he committed a crime prior to his arrival to the United States and that is a total, total falsehood," said Luis Carrillo, Morales' attorney.

Carrillo believes the U.S. government is trying to cover up a mistake, and officials then came up with new allegations against Morales. One of the allegations is that Morales committed crimes after he arrived in the U.S.

The government said it received an alert from the national police agency INTERPOL stating Morales hired and directed individuals to assassinate four people in El Salvador in 2008.

"None of that is true. We have never seen any evidence that would prove that he was part of any alleged conspiracy to commit any crime," Carrillo said.

Morales is being held at the Adelanto Detention Center. His attorneys said their biggest complaint is that so far they haven't been able to get the proper hearings for their client.

"He has been detained for over five years without any criminal charges. We have sought every kind of relief on his behalf, both asylum, temporary protective status. They've denied him review after review and they said that he has actually had a fair bond here when actually he has not," attorney Elsa Martinez said.

Carlos Morales worries that at any moment his brother could be deported. He fears Raul will be killed if he is sent back to El Salvador.