Ray

She was a teenage cashier, and she used customers' credit card numbers to buy $339.07 worth of items, including a fake Christmas tree. She pleaded guilty, got probation and pretty much forgot about it.

Until, that is, she took a trip abroad six years later — and federal authorities decided that the crimes made her deportable. Now the British citizen, who has lived in Newport News as a lawful permanent resident since she was 7, has been ordered to leave the United States this month.

http://www.dailypress.com/news/local...,4814089.story

E3only

I am no lawyer have not studied immigration etc etc.

This sounds way unfair ? May be wrong ... but she did the crime paid the time...and now deported.

Not so much the US - she will have issues now (being deported by US) getting visa for other countries.

Unfair - thats what I think....sure what she did was stupid...

md95065

Who said US immigration law was "fair"?

E3only

something like this can destroy one's career....

AdobePinon

The correct answer is..... she should have got her citizenship before traveling. Let this be a lesson to all of you who've stolen credit card numbers.

Folinskyinla

Hi:

She also made a big mistake of living in Virginia. Also, there are some things I'm wondering about -- the details of the conviction to start.

[On the road in Rutherford NJ]

pejpm1

I love reading the comments below these kind of stories. It really does showcase the utter stupidity, ignorance, and occasionally downright racism of some people. Thats not a swipe at Americans, it's the same when you read the comments below immigration stories in the daily mail...

"Judging from her kids, she appears to have a love of Africa. Send her there. "




"My opinion is that her children can go with her to England. The positive side is that health care is free there, too bad gas cost around 8 dollars a gallon because of the social welfare system. "





"1. the kids are named Hakeem and Ali'yah. Are those African or Arab in origin?

2. There is no mention of the father.

Perhaps, then, there is some suspicion of the father, or the fathers activities?

If that is so, then mom is also suspect. Ergo, gotta go. "

scrubbedexpat099

She might not have been eligible.

She should have got her Citizenship before engaging in criminal activity.

Brit3964

More on this story and a couple of others:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...080103065.html

The case of the Baltimore steamfitter seems especially troubling given the conviction was in 1994 and he had been entering without problems until now. Makes you wonder if the USCIS are deliberately looking back through past immigration records trying to find something to deport people on? How did they manage to miss it for all those years? In any case, on the face of it, how can stealing a 30c pen make one deportable??: huh:

elfman

In early June, a Baltimore steamfitter was flagged for deportation while going through customs in Atlanta after a trip to his native country, Trinidad. The man, a permanent U.S. resident for 28 years, said he had never had trouble entering after previous travels abroad, but this time, records show, authorities' interest was piqued by a 1994 theft conviction. According to his attorney, Cynthia Rosenberg, the man had stolen the pen he used to sign a check at a Baltimore grocery store.

Ray

You really believe that ....

fatbrit

Yep -- it's a numbers game. Boss says he needs criminal aliens deported to look good. Drones oblige by picking the easy ones. Go messing with the drug smugglers, gun smugglers or coyotes and that's hard work and you could be treading on toes. Run a batch job on the computer for minor offenders and flag them for CBP to pick up at the POE -- now that's nice and easy. Everyone's a winner, baby!

Folinskyinla

Hi:

A petty theft offense CAN get you deported -- if it is the second one. Kind of an early "two strikes and you are out." I've have found that a description coming for the victim and her lawyer given to the press should be taken with a grain of salt.

But you are right that a lot of people ARE upset that they had no trouble before and had escaped the notice of the Immigration Authorities.

By the way, CIS is NOT deliberately seeking out these people -- that said, many CIS record checks will reveal the past problem and cause a referral to ICE. And CBP runs the checks on EVERYONE who goes through an inspection.

It is just that the record checks are getting better and more thorough. As you note, many people find it upsetting that they got through before. I guess the idea is "better late than never."

fatbrit

Have you any evidence for this statement? Or is it just an opinion?

Folinskyinla

Hi:

It is inherent in the organization of DHS. CIS is the adjudication people while ICE and, to a certain extent, CBP are the enforcement people. CIS does not arrest people, but ICE does.