Undocumented immigrants in Minnesota and across the United States live every day with the very real threat of deportation.
Recently, three undocumented immigrants in Minnesota were prosecuted for illegally entering the United States after already having been deported. They were discovered due to their criminal records and activities.
One of the three immigrants was a 29-year-old man who been deported in 2003. He had been first convicted of third-degree criminal sexual conduct. Because he was found in the United States again in June 2010, he faces up to 20 years in prison.
Another immigrant, a 49-year-old man, faces a similar situation. He was found in the United States in 2011, having been deported five years earlier. He had been originally deported after a burglary conviction.
The man was discovered after his arrest for drug procession at Mystic Lake Casino. On September 6, he was sentenced to 24 months in prison for his reentry.
The ICE Criminal Alien Program identified another man, 31 years old, as an undocumented immigrant when he was in a county jail. He had already been deported after an assault conviction. His reentry will cost him 45 months in prison.
Undocumented immigrants arrested for other criminal activities will often be deported. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations investigate such cases.
The new deferred action policy only applies to undocumented immigrants who are under the age of 31, among other requirements. Undocumented immigrants who have been convicted of certain crimes are also deemed ineligible.
Source: CBS, “3 Illegals Returned After Criminal Deportation, Are Prosecuted,” September 10, 2012
Our firm handles situations similar to those discussed in this post. To learn more about our practice, please visit our Minnesota deportation defense page.
