Thread: Court turns down asylum plea by SoCal gang member

Court turns down asylum plea by SoCal gang member
Associated Press - December 29, 2007 9:04 AM ET

LOS ANGELES (AP) - An appeals court has rejected a plea for asylum by a Los Angeles-area gang member, who argued his tattoos would make him the target of rival gangsters in his native El Salvador.

Jean Pierre Arteaga - a legal immigrant who came to the U.S. with his parents at age 4 - was ordered deported because of several felony convictions.

He asked to be granted humanitarian refugee status because of fears the gang tattoos that cover much of his body would mark him for persecution and possibly torture by rival gang members in his home country.

But the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals rejected Arteaga's argument, saying he could provide no evidence of his claims.

An immigration judge and the Board of Immigration Appeals have also turned down his asylum request.
http://www.kesq.com/Global/story.asp?S=7554961&nav=9qrx

Wow, I think that's the second time this year that the 9th circuit court of appeals has actually done something right.

Yes Virginia ... there is a Santa Claus!!!!

But the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals rejected Arteaga's argument, saying he could provide no evidence of his claims.

Guess he should have thought about that before he permantely marked his body. What a jerk.

I can only hope and pray this thug does get everything he fears, the same exact things he most likely had been inflicting on innocent Americans here for his entire life. Maybe then he can see what it's like to be in fear of injury and death like his victims did, thanks to gang banger thugs like himself. Irony sweet irony, a scumbag whining about being afraid of getting what he probably used to dish out.

Court says gangster not entitled to refugee status

By Gregory W. Griggs, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
December 29, 2007
A federal appeals court has ruled that a Los Angeles gang member, a legal immigrant from El Salvador who was ordered deported because of several felony convictions, is not entitled to humanitarian refugee status because of fears that he will be targeted by rivals in his home country.

Jean Pierre Arteaga, who came to the U.S. with his parents at age 4, argued that the gang tattoos that cover much of his body would mark him for persecution and possibly torture by rival gang members while he was temporarily detained by authorities in El Salvador. He said that the tattoos entitled him to "special group" status.

But the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals rejected his argument, saying Arteaga could provide no evidence of his claims. Earlier, he unsuccessfully pleaded his case before an immigration judge and the Board of Immigration Appeals.

The ruling was cheered by immigration officials. "Asylum is for people who cry out for sympathy from the world community," said William Odencrantz of the L.A. office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. "It's not intended to provide refuge for criminals and deviants who seek to harm society. It's a seminal ruling on this issue."

www.latimes.com

I'm never gonna' understand our nation's obsession with excessive litigation. In cases like these, particularly when they involve legal immigrants or even naturalized citizens, a simple three-judge panel ought to have the final decision and be limited to about four hours of deliberation. Enough is enough. And if a few are released, they'll get another chance -- just as soon as they commit another crime. And the judges could be replaced according to their failures. The millions expended on this litigation are not justified and certainly wouldn't be afforded to a citizen seeking forgiveness of a crime, due to the possiblility prison retribution for tattoos. If he really doesn't want them, I'd be happy to hang his carcass up and skin him. Here's a detailed video clip (click here). As a postscript, the Times didn't tell you he's 31 years old now with a very long rap sheet and a well-documented court battle over his conviction for auto theft.

He came here with his parents as a FOUR year old?? So, this is one of the "kids" who shouldn't be punished for his parents decisions?

I highly doubt his parents made him join a gang. He should have thought about any consequences BEFORE he joined a gang and became a criminal. No sympathy here.

Tattoos can be covered up ...

Why be afraid now that he's going "home"? He didn't seem to have any problems getting his tatoos procliming how proud hs is of his ganghood. Guess he better get used to wearing long sleeve turtle-neck sweaters for the rest of his life.