Immigration case against three teens tossed

By Leslie Berestein, UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
February 23, 2010 at 3:40 p.m.

Three teens detained in a Department of Homeland Security operation last year while en route to school on a public trolley may remain in the country, at least for now.

A federal immigration court judge in San Diego terminated the teens’ deportation proceedings on jurisdictional grounds Tuesday. According to Lilia Velasquez, an attorney representing the three youths, the judge ruled that he did not have jurisdiction due to discrepancies in the charging documents; an attorney representing the federal Homeland Security Department was not available for comment.

The three teens, one now 15, the other two 17, were picked up in May by immigration authorities. All had been brought into the country illegally several years earlier by their families. After their arrest, they were deported to Tijuana, where they spent a month before being allowed back into the country on humanitarian parole.

The dismissal of their deportation proceedings does not grant them legal status, but returns them to the status quo. They remain in the country without documents and can still be deported.

“I’m happy with what has happened and that they are able to stay here,â€