Legal resident deported after being nabbed on traffic violations

[Ban Hammer 13,625]

A 25-year-old Ogden man who had legal residency was deported this week after spending nearly six weeks in the Weber County Jail on traffic charges.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement deported Miguel Soto based on the agency's vague "moral turpitude" guidelines, apparently stemming from previous misdemeanors.

But family members, who say they could not afford an attorney and that Soto had brain damage from an accident years ago, are in shock.

"If we had a lawyer, I don't think my son would be in Mexico right now," said Manuel Soto, Miguel's father and a longtime Ogden resident.

A search of court records indicates Miguel Soto's most serious crimes were a year-old conviction for criminal mischief, and two shoplifting charges from five and six years ago. All three cases were closed when he paid fines.

However, those misdemeanor convictions were apparently enough to get his permanent legal residency status revoked.

"Legal permanent residents are still guests in this country," said Lori Haley, spokeswoman for ICE. "If they are convicted of aggravated felonies or crimes of moral turpitude, they can be deported."

The situation saddened Charles Kuck, president of the American Immigration Lawyers Association.

"This is an example of yet another travesty and tragedy that is our immigration system," said Kuck, a Brigham Young University graduate.

The immigration court is a civil court, and is not required to provide legal counsel for those who can't afford it. The court also does not take into account the mental deficiencies of a defendant, Kuck said.

While ICE's guidelines define crimes of moral turpitude as those that "shock the public conscience," such as murder, voluntary manslaughter, kidnapping, robbery or aggravated assaults, Kuck says it can be interpreted to incorporate anything but trespassing.

Soto's father, Manuel Soto has labored as a farmworker since 1974 and received a green card in 1986. He brought his son and wife to the United States to live in the early 90s. When Miguel Soto was still in elementary school, the family was in a car accident, and the boy suffered a traumatic brain injury, his father said.

"The doctors told me he'd never be the same," Manuel Soto said through a translator.

Manuel Soto is now on disability and doesn't work, and couldn't afford a lawyer for his son. He said that during his immigration court hearing, his son answered every question with a yes, even when the answer should have been no.

"He didn't know what was happening. He didn't understand," Manuel Soto said.

Miguel Soto was deported by voluntary departure and ended up in Cuidad-Juarez, a border town just across from El Paso. He has no family there and is attempting to make it several hundred miles to Guanajuato, a place he hasn't lived in since he was 10 years old.

Tony Yapias, a Latino community activist, questions Miguel Soto's ability to properly judge right from wrong.

"These people are poor, uneducated, indigent family," he said. "His dad was barely understanding why his son was deported. There was no way for this poor guy to have a chance at it."

Eli Cawley, chairman of the anti-illegal immigration Utah Minuteman Project, called the situation "deplorable."

"This highlights the overall injustice of the system. "You have someone who has played by the rules, is here legally, and it seems the only reason he was deported was because he didn't have legal representation. Those crimes don't seem enough to be considered moral turpitude," he said. "The benefit of the doubt should have been extended to this individual."

link

Edited May 26, 2009 by charles!

[Heracles 417]

One would think they would be targeting criminals who are also illegal aliens than those who are here legally.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

It seems minuteman know the difference between LEGAL and ILLEGAL immigration. If only the left could figure it out.

[Marina-Del 10]

That's horrible.

Nice to hear that after all the work we'll do to finally get our loved ones in the US, they will still only be "guests" for at minimum their first 5 years in the states.

I wonder: Does the US government say that citizenship is a privilege or a right? If I do something really wrong will they take my citizenship away?

[AlHayatZween 2]

Wish they would deport the illegal ones who murder people (i.e., Newark, New Jersey case)

[Bobby+Umit 161]

That's horrible.

Nice to hear that after all the work we'll do to finally get our loved ones in the US, they will still only be "guests" for at minimum their first 5 years in the states.

I wonder: Does the US government say that citizenship is a privilege or a right? If I do something really wrong will they take my citizenship away?

If your naturalized, and they find out you did something wrong (like lie during the LPR application stage), yes, they can strip the citizenship away.

Only citizens born in the US cannot have it stripped away from them. (I suppose because there is no place to send you after they do that)

[Marina-Del 10]

That's horrible.

Nice to hear that after all the work we'll do to finally get our loved ones in the US, they will still only be "guests" for at minimum their first 5 years in the states.

I wonder: Does the US government say that citizenship is a privilege or a right? If I do something really wrong will they take my citizenship away?

If your naturalized, and they find out you did something wrong (like lie during the LPR application stage), yes, they can strip the citizenship away.

Only citizens born in the US cannot have it stripped away from them. (I suppose because there is no place to send you after they do that)

Wow, so really unless you were born in the US, then you're never safe, huh? I can understand about taking it away if they find out you lied to get it, that makes sense.

[Heracles 417]

Wish they would deport the illegal ones who murder people (i.e., Newark, New Jersey case)

Nah who cares about those types. They are just here to 'make a living'. Murdering Americans is just collateral damage of a free society. Also the best way for someone who is already here illegally to show how much respect they have for the country, its laws and its people.

But those traffic offending legal types must definitely go. Ungrateful bastards! Who do they think they are to violate the traffic laws.

**sarcasm**

[Ban Hammer 13,625]

It seems minuteman know the difference between LEGAL and ILLEGAL immigration. If only the left could figure it out.

[Bobby+Umit 161]

That's horrible.

Nice to hear that after all the work we'll do to finally get our loved ones in the US, they will still only be "guests" for at minimum their first 5 years in the states.

I wonder: Does the US government say that citizenship is a privilege or a right? If I do something really wrong will they take my citizenship away?

If your naturalized, and they find out you did something wrong (like lie during the LPR application stage), yes, they can strip the citizenship away.

Only citizens born in the US cannot have it stripped away from them. (I suppose because there is no place to send you after they do that)

Wow, so really unless you were born in the US, then you're never safe, huh? I can understand about taking it away if they find out you lied to get it, that makes sense.

Well - most cases are outright fraud, and they take mucho time through the courts, but it can be done. (John Demjanjuk is one such case)

That is why I always recommend to use the truth in doing anything with the government - one little lie can squash your case.

[Niels Bohr 72]

Well, where does it say that the minutemen were from the right or left?

[Ban Hammer 13,625]

Well, where does it say that the minutemen were from the right or left?

when you find a left wing minuteman, let us know.

[Niels Bohr 72]

I was googling minuteman and learned there are groups who are not biased towards Democrats and Republicans. I think they are a league of their own

Edited May 26, 2009 by Niels Bohr

[Heracles 417]

I was googling minuteman and learned there are groups who are not biased towards Democrats and Republicans.

Also know as true patriots. That is, people who can put their political ideology aside in order to protect what is best for their country.

[Marina-Del 10]

I was googling minuteman and learned there are groups who are not biased towards Democrats and Republicans.

Also know as true patriots. That is, people who can put their political ideology aside in order to protect what is best for their country.

But is that even possible? I think it's a very nice idea...but if it possible to put your political ideology completely aside when trying to make decisions for the best of ones country? Maybe it is, maybe not. But it sounds hard.