Thread: Shenandoah man paroled, then given to ICE

Criminal Court: Shenandoah man paroled, then given to authorities for possible deportation



BY PETER E. BORTNER
STAFF WRITER
pbortner@republicanherald.com
Published: Friday, June 20, 2008 8:11 AM EDT
A Shenandoah man was paroled Thursday after pleading guilty to driving under the influence, false reports and possession of a controlled substance — but he did not go free.

Instead, Luis Paniagua, 26, will be turned over to immigration authorities for possible deportation.

Assistant District Attorney Thomas J. Campion said Paniagua is an illegal alien, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement has filed a detainer against him.

That detainer prevented Paniagua from going free after Judge John E. Domalakes sentenced him to 48 hours to six months in prison, with credit for time served and immediate parole. Instead, he will stay in the county prison until ICE personnel pick him up.

Domalakes also sentenced Paniagua to pay costs, a $500 fine, $100 to the Substance Abuse Education Fund, $50 to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account and $50 to the district attorney’s office for a bench warrant fee.

Police charged Paniagua with DUI on Feb. 10 in East Union Township, and with possessing cocaine. Paniagua had a blood alcohol level of .14 percent, almost twice the legal limit of .08 percent, when he was DUI, police said.

http://www.republicanherald.com/article ... 37_loc.txt

This is exactly why the 287(g) program needs to be funded and the program unchanged. Even a DUI uncovers other crimes. Illegal immigration is not a one misdemeanor act. There always follows more. "If I can get away with crossing the border, I can get away with a lot more" attitude.