Thread: Immigrant who lived in Minn. school sentenced in Boston brea

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THIS STORY HAS BEEN FORMATTED FOR EASY PRINTING


Immigrant who lived in Minn. school sentenced in Boston break-in
September 25, 2006

BOSTON --An illegal immigrant from Mexico who became a cause celebre after authorities found him living in a suburban Minneapolis high school pleaded guilty Monday to breaking into an apartment in Boston and was to be turned over to immigration officials for deportation.

Francisco Serrano, 22, was sentenced to six months in jail on a charge of breaking and entering in the nighttime. Since he has already served six months since his arrest in March, a Boston Municipal Court judge said he has completed his sentence. He was expected to be turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement immediately.

Serrano made national news last year when he was found living in Apple Valley High School. Serrano said he'd been sleeping there for three weeks because he needed a warm place to stay, prompting an outpouring of support in Minneapolis.

A judge ordered him to leave the United States because he was here illegally. He hugged supporters goodbye at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport on Jan. 5, but never boarded his plane to Mexico.

Authorities say Serrano never left the country and ended up in Boston, where he was arrested in March for allegedly breaking into an apartment armed with a knife.

Jake Wark, a spokesman for Suffolk District Attorney Daniel Conley, said Serrano was expected to be turned over to the custody of immigration officials late Monday.

"He received a voluntary departure order the first time around, and apparently, because he didn't comply with that voluntary departure, he is now being officially ordered to leave the country," Wark said.



© Copyright 2006 The New York Times Company

Good. I never understood why he wasn't charged for being in the school. Around here entry is only allowed to citizens at the school office after getting let through a locked door. I'm pretty sure if I'm in the school building without authorization that police will show up. Just incredible.