Thread: CA-Boy who punched schoolmate won't be deported

Boy who punched schoolmate won't be deported
Bob Egelko, Chronicle Staff Writer

Thursday, April 22, 2010



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(04-21) 17:34 PDT SAN FRANCISCO -- A San Francisco bus driver's wife and two stepsons won the right to remain in the United States on Wednesday after nearly being deported because of a schoolyard punching and a city immigration crackdown, their lawyer said.

Immigration officials learned that Tracey Washington and her sons, ages 13 and 5, were here on expired visa waivers after police arrested the older boy in January for hitting a schoolmate and taking 46 cents. They were reported under Mayor Gavin Newsom's July 2008 policy that required juvenile authorities to notify federal agents after the felony arrest of any youth suspected of being in the country illegally.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement ordered the mother and children, who had a legal-residency application pending, to leave for their native Australia by March 5. Two days earlier, after the family and their lawyer held a news conference, the agency granted a reprieve to give another government bureau time to consider the application.

They learned that their application had been accepted when the mother and her older son received green cards Wednesday, said attorney Angela Chan of the Asian Law Caucus.

Washington's husband, Charles Washington used the occasion to criticize Newsom, whose spokesman said last month that the case vindicated the mayor's policy.

"Your policy hurts families and tears children away from their parents for minor, first-time offenses," Charles Washington, a Muni bus driver, said in a letter to the mayor.

"Our family's luck in this case was unique, but Mr. Newsom, the pain we felt when our family was facing deportation as a result of your policy is not unique."

Newsom spokesman Tony Winnicker said the mayor was glad the Washingtons had resolved their case but wasn't backing away from his position on suspected illegal immigrants.

"Remember, we report, we don't deport," Winnicker said. "The case validates our current sanctuary city policy, where San Francisco reports undocumented juvenile arrests and Obama administration officials exercise discretion and judgment in deportation decisions."

The Washingtons, who met in 2003, married in April 2009. The marriage made Tracey Washington and her children eligible for legal residence, but her husband said a federal agency had inaccurately told them there was no deadline for an application.

He said they were saving up for the $3,000 application fee when his stepson attacked a schoolmate. Washington said the boy apologized to the other youth, who was uninjured, and returned the 46 cents. But police took the boy to juvenile hall on felony charges of assault, robbery and extortion, triggering reporting to immigration officials under Newsom's policy.

E-mail Bob Egelko at begelko@sfchronicle.com.


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They learned that their application had been accepted when the mother and her older son received green cards Wednesday, said attorney Angela Chan of the Asian Law Caucus.

Wow, now greencard applicants have discovered a new way to expedite their applications. Just send your child to school with specific directions to beat another to extort his lunch money.

Immigration officials learned that Tracey Washington and her sons, ages 13 and 5, were here on expired visa waivers after police arrested the older boy in January for hitting a schoolmate and taking 46 cents.

Being here under an expired visa is no different that walking across the border illegally. An illegal is an illegal, regardless of how he or she got here!

Policy Amnesty.

I don't care, the problem with letting the first time offender off is they re-offend and escalate.

Dixie

MW wrote:

Wow, now greencard applicants have discovered a new way to expedite their applications. Just send your child to school with specific directions to beat another to extort his lunch money.

Just the act of being here illegally rewards you in all sorts of ways. And as you say MW, more law breaking just gets you more rewards and free benefits.

Our government is very bad in its actions and behaviors.

John 14:27
It is written,... Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.