Hundreds of immigrants with mental disabilities who were deported after being forced to represent themselves in court may be able to return to the United States.

The ACLU of Southern California announced that a decision by a U.S. federal judge last week cleared the way for immigrants with mental disabilities to request to reopen their cases.

“For too long, individuals with mental disabilities were forced to represent themselves in deportation proceedings or allowed to languish in immigration jails,” said Hector Villagra, executive director of the ACLU of Southern California. “Ultimately, all were denied a fair day in court.”

The decision follows a 2013 injunction ordering that immigrants with mental disabilities have a right to legal representation if they are not competent to represent themselves.

The settlement applies to immigrants with mental disabilities who were detained in Arizona, California, and Washington after Nov. 21, 2011.