Deported man was actually U.S. citizen

raytri · #1 (**permalink**) 08-23-2006, 08:13 PM

More fun in the courts:
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/nation..._Surprise.html

Quote:

ALBANY, N.Y. -- Duarnis Perez became an American citizen when he was 15, but he didn't find out until after he had been deported and then jailed for trying to get back into the country.

He was facing his second deportation hearing when he learned he was already a U.S. citizen. Still, federal prosecutors fought to keep him in custody.

Last week, a federal judge scolded prosecutors for the mistake.

"In effect, the government is arguing that an innocent man who was wrongly convicted should not be released from the custody of the United States," U.S. District Judge Lawrence Kahn wrote. He ruled that Perez never should have been deported.

The story has a lot of holes, and Perez is not exactly a stand-up citizen. I'll dig up more details tomorrow if I get a chance.

The12thMan · #2 (**permalink**) 08-23-2006, 08:30 PM

Quote:

"The immigration service has to prove someone is removable. It's their job," she said. "It's remarkable to go through an entire removal process and not know the person is a citizen."

I find it even more remarkable that someone could be a US citizen and not only not know it, but plead guilty to illegal reentry.

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