A woman who married an immigrant two years ago is now working tirelessly to try to secure her husband’s release from a detainment center in another state. He wound up behind bars when Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents surrounded him on his way to work. They were in an unmarked vehicle and blocked his path of travel, with several men — claiming to be agents — storming toward him and commanding him to get out of his car. The immigration detention situation began with a minor traffic stop several months earlier. Louisiana residents facing similar problems may want to follow this case.
At that time, a police officer had pulled the man over because one of the headlights on his vehicle was burned out. That same day, he had the headlight repaired and handed the ticket in at the local precinct where police reportedly told him the matter was resolved and he had nothing more to worry about. They did not inform him that, when the traffic stop was made, ICE officials were contacted and informed about his legal status.
The man’s petition for permanent residency based on his marriage to a U.S. citizen had already been accepted before he was arrested. He has two grown sons, one of whom was born in the United States. The man’s wife says he pays taxes on time and has never been charged with a crime. The issue that apparently led to his arrest has to do with a 17-year-old deportation order.
There are often several courses of action a Louisiana resident can take when facing a removal threat from the U.S. government. One of the greatest assets to have on hand is the support of an experienced attorney who is well versed in immigration detention regulations and U.S. immigration law in general. Allowing an attorney to act on one’s behalf may mean the difference between securing a release and being forced to leave the United States.
