Thread: Judge permits union organizer 2 return 2 Mexico voluntarily

Judge permits union organizer to return to Mexico voluntarily
by The Oregonian
Friday August 24, 2007, 1:59 PM

A federal immigration judge today granted a request from a Molalla union organizer and illegal immigrant to return to Mexico voluntarily rather than be deported.

The judge's decision uproots an entire family. But it leaves open the possibility that Jose Alfredo Cobian, 37, may some day have the chance to return to the United States legally. Deportation would have prevented legal re-entry.

Cobian said he was surprised at the decision but declined to comment further after today's hearing.

In anticipation of today's hearing, Cobian's two children, both U.S. citizens, left on a flight for Mexico on Thursday, along with Cobian's wife, also a Mexican immigrant. Immigration Judge Michael Bennett ordered Cobian to follow suit within a week.

Cobian entered the United States illegally in 1989. He later purchased the birth certificate of Jose Luis Mendoza, a California boy who had died as a child, and assumed the little boy's name. In 1996, he used the name to apply for a Social Security card and later used the false identity to obtain a U.S. passport and legal residency status for his wife.

The family had made a typical American life for themselves in Molalla, where Cobian's son and daughter attended school and where the family owned a house. Cobian became a respected organizer in Pacific Northwest Regional Council of Carpenters, pushing for better pay and working conditions for immigrant workers.

He was arrested in 2006, the year after he applied for a U.S. passport using the false identity. A routine computer check had matched the information Cobian submitted to the dead boy.

Cobian cooperated with authorities and admitted his wrongdoing. He continued to receive financial support from the union, which raised voluntary donations for family living expenses after Cobian was barred from working in the country. The union also helped fix up his house to prepare it for sale in anticipation of a possible deportation. Union members also wrote letters of support to Bennett, the immigration judge.

The judge made it clear that Cobian's crimes -- especially his use of a false identity to obtain legal residency status for his wife -- were serious and that deportation would have been the expected outcome for the case. But he said during the hearing that he decided to exercise his discretion.

"I do wish you the best sir," Bennett said.

- Sarah Hunsberger
sarahunsberger@news.oregonian.com

Oops ... here is the link:

http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ss ... n_org.html

Judges allowing these people to leave freely instead of deporting them?

At least they took their children with them instead of crying about the family being separated.

Judges allowing these people to leave freely instead of deporting them?

Gee why can't we decided what punishment is in our best interest when we commit crimes? I mean I've seen them lower bails and such in order for the family to be able to get them out easier. I'm sick of this.....it's not only the laws....it's the punisnments too! Well....judge....I like this option better......suits my situation more to my liking.