Thread: CA: Family: Mentally Disabled Man Mistakenly Deported

Family: Mentally Disabled Man Mistakenly Deported
June 12, 2007, 6:07 AM PDT

Family: Mentally Disabled Man Mistakenly Deported The family of a mentally disabled man who was recently deported to Mexico is suing the Department of Homeland Security and the L.A. County Sheriff's Department, claiming the agencies mistakenly deported an American citizen.

The family said it has been searching for Pedro Guzman in Tijuana for a month, and fears that he's living in the streets or possibly worse.

Read|More Local News

"My worst fear is that he is no longer living," said Guzman's brother, Michael Guzman. "He doesn't know how to read. He often can't remember the family phone number. He even gets lost if he gets off the main street in Lancaster."

It all began when Pedro Guzman, 29, a resident of the desert city of Lancaster, was sentenced April 19 to 120 days in jail for a misdemeanor trespassing violation, according to the suit filed in federal court.

At the Men's Central Jail in Los Angeles, he was asked about his immigration status and responded that he was born in California, according to the suit.

Sometime after that, the Sheriff's Department identified him as a non-citizen, obtained his signature for voluntary removal from the United States and turned him over to U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement for deportation, according to the suit.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California, which helped file the suit, has Pedro Guzman's birth certificate showing he was born at Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center, said spokeswoman Celeste Durant.

Sheriff's spokesman Steve Whitmore said the department correctly followed procedures.

"My understanding is that this individual said he was a Mexican national and was in the country illegally when we interviewed him," said Whitmore. "We turn that information over to immigration officials, who then re-interview him."

Immigration and Customs Enforcement confirmed he had been deported, and said the agency had done so correctly.

"ICE only processes persons for removal when all available credible evidence suggests the person is an alien," read a statement. "That process was followed here and ICE has no reason to believe that it improperly removed Pedro Guzman." An agency spokeswoman declined further comment because the lawsuit was pending.

On May 11, Guzman called the home of half brother Juan Carlos Chabes in Lancaster, said Michael Guzman. He spoke briefly with Chabes' wife, telling her he had been deported but didn't know to where.

So he asked a passer-by where he was, and Chabes' wife heard a man respond, "Tijuana," said Michael Guzman.

"That's how we realized he was there," said Michael Guzman.

Then the phone cut off and the family hasn't heard from him since. In Tijuana, they've put up fliers, visited police stations, jails, hospitals and morgues, but haven't been able to locate him.

The family has asked various U.S. government agencies for help finding him but have been denied, said Catherine Lhamon from the ACLU of Southern California.

"It's astonishing that the government who deported him by mistake has done nothing to help," said Lhamon.

Lhamon said Pedro Guzman had previously done jail time for drug possession, so he had a record that could have been cross-checked before a deportation decision was made.

Michael Guzman said his parents were from Mexico, but seven children, including Pedro, were born in California. He said Pedro spoke both English and Spanish, but couldn't read or write either.

About a week before being deported, he called from jail to say he would soon be released and put on house arrest, said Michael Guzman.

In the last two weeks, Michael Guzman said several letters have come to the house reminding his brother to show up at probation-related meetings.

"He obviously isn't going to make those," he said.

http://ktla.trb.com/news/ktla-deportedg ... tla-news-2

So, they let their relative roam around without a Medical ID bracelet?

The family did not properly supervise a childlike adult. I hope they don't encourage him to vote.

About a week before being deported, he called from jail to say he would soon be released and put on house arrest, said Michael Guzman.

Oh so the family was irresponsible! They should have been overseeing this process and they should have hired him an attorney. Since he is an American citizen, and has a handicap, he could have had a free court appointed attorney.

Are they sick puppies that allowed him to get deported so they could file a lawsuit? Well, that plan turned for the worst. That's why he was on the phone calling to be picked up. Interesting that he knew how to make an international phone call.

This is really sad and there is no one else to blame but the family that didn't care enough to take the time to go get their relative. They should feel guilty and ashamed of themselves.

I'm really mad at this family. I don't feel sorry for them but I do their neglected and lost family member. I pray he is safe.

Dixie

This is a sad then but trying to get millions of illegals occassionaly things are going to happen. this man needed someone to be with him since he could not take care of himself. the parents and relatives are to blame not ICE. If we had a national ID then this would not have happened. It would have been in his pocket and ICE would have researched him. I would ask why there was no ID on this man so that ICE could talk with this family?