Thread: It's about time N.C. gets an immigration court

It's about time N.C. gets an immigration court
published March 25, 2007 12:15 am

The Department of Justice recently announced that it will open a new immigration court in Charlotte to help manage a burgeoning caseload made up mainly of deportation cases.

It’s about time.

North Carolina cases are now handled in a crowded court in Atlanta, which also covers cases from Georgia, Alabama and South Carolina.

For an Asheville teenager facing deportation to El Salvador that means traveling three to four hours to Atlanta for hearings and then being compelled to wait long hours for her case to be called. It’s expensive and exhausting.

Rubidia Carballo’s deportation trial is scheduled April 23. The 17-year-old Roberson High School student has lived in the United States since she was 8 years old. She is the only member of her family targeted for deportation.

With one trial court serving four states, it’s not surprising that people spend hours waiting for their cases to be heard.

“The judges have very packed dockets, and it’s usually a madhouse down there,” said Attracta Kelly, an immigration attorney for the N.C. Justice Center in Raleigh. “Just having it in this state will make an enormous amount of difference — especially for clients who can’t afford (travel).”

The addition of a North Carolina immigration court is long overdue.

The state is the only one of the 10 states with the highest population of illegal immigrants that does not have an immigration court.

Official estimates are that the state has the eight-largest population of illegal immigrants, ranging from 300,000 to 600,000 foreigners.

Those who are charged with being in the country illegally deserve to have their cases heard and promptly resolved.

If they turn out to be here legally, as it appears Rubidia Carballo is, it’s important to resolve their status so they can get on with their lives. If they’re here illegally, it’s also important to return them to their home country.



http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs. ... 0770323112

If they’re here illegally, it’s also important to return them to their home country.

I must need another cup of coffee. This sentence can't possibly be in the citizen-times.

Originally Posted by had_enuf

If they’re here illegally, it’s also important to return them to their home country.

I must need another cup of coffee. This sentence can't possibly be in the citizen-times.

Wellllll, could they be referring to the all so intelligent TOUCH-BACK, TOUCH-DOWN, TURN AROUND & STEP BACK IN policy?