Deportation of Permanent Residents

so, equality iss., you are suggesting that aliens are better off becoming celebrities so that they won't be sent to jail when they committ crimes?! LOL

No, stupid.

Would we deport Winona Ryder for shoplifting? Of course not. In fact, for her felony conviction, Ryder will pay restitution, engage in community service and face no jail time. Yet, every day, the United States deports lawful immigrants and refugees who have been convicted of minor offenses such as shoplifting and writing bad checks. Yes, some have committed more serious crimes involving violence or narcotics, but all have been incarcerated, then deported on top of that.

The planned deportation of almost 1,400 Cambodian refugees back to a country with one of the world's worst human rights records should make us rethink our deportation laws. For years Cambodia would not accept deportable refugees, but last March, enticed by further economic aid from the United States, it signed a repatriation agreement. Since then, 36 Cambodian nationals have been sent back, while others await processing by U.S. immigration officials. Those deported have been detained by the Cambodian government for weeks at a time awaiting further "processing," while they and their U.S. families have been pressured with extortion demands. Money is requested for every little privilege, such as $50 for the use of towels.

The real tragedy of the deportation of Cambodian refugees is who they are. Most of those being deported have little connection to contemporary Cambodia, their only memories being of the cruelty and starvation under the Khmer Rouge and the "Killing Fields" massacre of more than 2 million of their countrymen. Some do not speak Khmer, and many do not read or write the language. Some were born in refugee camps in Thailand and have never set foot in Cambodia. Others entered the United States as infants. Most have resided in the United States for more than 20 years and for all intents and purposes are Americans, having grown up here. Like it or not, they are products of the American environment.

Who are the Cambodian deportees? Lundy See of Philadelphia entered as a refugee at age 8; he was convicted of assault at 16 and served 14 months in prison. Sokha Sun of Seattle, who possessed a gun illegally, came to the United States as a three-week-old refugee. Borom Chea, who grew up near Sacramento, entered at the age of 3. At 17 he was convicted of robbery and served 71/2 years in state prison. Other Cambodian deportees, who wish to remain anonymous, include a young man whose offense was public urination; another was convicted of drunken driving; one was convicted of two petty thefts. A recent group of deportees who arrived in Phnom Penh included an 80-year-old man. Left behind are their spouses, children, parents and friends. In years past, deportation relief might have been afforded to many of these people if certain hardships or rehabilitation could be established, but an overhaul of the immigration laws in 1996 closed this avenue for a second chance to most "alien criminals."

As a sovereign nation, we certainly have the technical authority to punish and remove these people from our country. But even though we have this power, how, when and on what basis should we exercise it? Are we really proud of deporting people who entered the country as infants to a land where they have no real ties? People who have served their criminal sentences? People who may have convincing evidence of rehabilitation? People who have stable families and communities ready to help get them back on their feet? Many of these deportees deserved a second chance, but our system provided them with no opportunity to present their cases.

Winona Ryder is lucky she did not enter the country as a toddler from a Thai refugee camp. If she had, she might be faced with an armed escort to Phnom Penh.

Here in Marietta, Georgia...about 2 years ago there was a case of a European woman been living in U.S. for nearly 20 years, came here in her early teens, got married, then have children. She had a (hair pulling)fight with one of the her child's mother. Someone reported her in the INS, and INS said that she will be deported, she was in the local news crying....I do not know what happened next. But that tells you that even as simple as that can be a reason for deportation.

Oh yeah guest, American immigration laws are stupid, not to say something else and end up being polite towards this great country

All Ameican laws are stupid ans non-sensical, not just immigration laws.

This thread has some interesting posts...

Oh yeah, too many pharmacological names as well...

Shoplifting is not a minor crime. But Winona is a citizen, not an immigrant -- and there is a major, major difference. Do all immigrants think that they are citizens (and should never be deported for ANYTHING) as soon as they come here? If you weren't born here, you don't have a right to stay, except with permission, and your stay is conditional upon your behavior. It's not rocket science.

How strange for immigrants to think they can stay in the USA indefinitely no matter what, and they always want to cry how unfair the laws are.

Well, they aren't unfair at all, because if an American arrived in any other country and broke the law, the American would naturally (and automatically) be deported back to America. What's so hard (or unfair) about that to understand?

It's too bad that YOU'RE so ignorant. The USA is not a haven for every person in the world with a sad story to come and "escape economic hardship." The USA is supported by its citizens and it has plenty of its own citizens who need help because they're suffering from their own "economic hardship." That's why our immigration laws are written so as not to import more poverty.

Calm down, M-F. You're gonna have a heart attack... slow down on your burgers and coke, I mean, Coke. Sorry.

America, don't listen to this idiots!

Misdemeanor crimes, which are all crimes punishable by less than 1 year in jail are generally not a reason someone would be deported. Legal Permanent Residents can only be deported for felony crimes such as murder, rape, armed robbery, etc. or crimes of moral turpitude.

Under the law, there is a lot of different relief someone can identify in response to deportaton and or removal proceedings. We handle deportation proceedings before the immigration court (EOIR) in New York and several other states. Immigration law is federal so an attorney licensed to practice law in one state can represent you before an immigration court in all 50 states. For a generalized statement of the various types of relief from deportation, see www.shusterman.com and click on "deportation". If anyone is interested, please contact us privately.

Frekhtman & Associates
225 Broadway, 41st Floor
New York, New York 10007
Email: Frekhtman@yahoo.com
www.866stayusa.com
toll free (866) STAY - USA

Frekhtman, that immigrant little girl pic...it was cool man...intriguing...