Thread: (Sundays Sob)spat with her ex, Austin mother faces deportati

After a spat with her ex, Austin mother faces deportation
By Juan Castillo
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Sunday, May 04, 2008

Maria came to Austin from Mexico on a visitor's visa at 13. She quietly built a life, attending middle school, graduating from Austin High, marrying, divorcing, raising two children on her own and working full-time at a child care center.

But Maria, now 30, had a secret with the potential to throw her life into a tailspin: Like millions of people in the United States, she is unauthorized to live and work here. A federal immigration officer discovered that secret in the Travis County Jail, where Maria had been booked on a misdemeanor assault charge after she was involved in a dispute with her ex-husband.

They had argued during a custody exchange of their children. Maria said that knowing her ex's history of domestic violence, she thought it wise to call police. (According to public records, her former spouse has twice been charged with assault/family violence; both cases were dismissed.)

When they arrived, police found "bleeding scratch marks" on her ex-husband's neck and forearm, according to an arrest affidavit. Maria said she had only blocked his attempt to strike her after she tried to take their 8-year-old daughter from his arms.

Maria spent the night in jail, paid $2,000 bail and signed documents for her release. Then the immigration officer approached. She told Maria she was now in federal custody.

"I said, 'This is not happening to me.' I mean, I am not a criminal," Maria recalled, overcome with emotion. (The American-Statesman is not using her real name because she said she fears retaliation from the government and her ex-husband.)

Now out on $11,000 bail in her immigration case, she ponders an uncertain future.

At home after a long day's work, wearing sweatpants and a baggy T-shirt, she shuttles from one bathroom to the other, giving her children baths with her mother's help. With her 5-foot-2-inch frame and girlish looks, she resembles a teenager.

Her 6-year-old son has been diagnosed with mild autism, Maria says. Both kids were born here and are U.S. citizens, and her family lives in this country. If Maria is deported, the whole family would suffer.

"I just don't think it's fair, what's happening." Maria says.

Nicole True, a criminal defense attorney who initially represented Maria, agrees. She says stories like hers — a reported victim of abuse who called police and now could be separated from her children — show the pitfalls of putting federal immigration agents in the county jail full time.

Critics contend Immigration and Customs Enforcement's increased presence also undoes years of work by Austin police to win the trust of undocumented immigrants, who are frequently the victims of robberies and other crimes. Police have sought to assure them that they would not be turned over to immigration authorities for reporting crimes or cooperating in criminal investigations. But Maria said that knowing ICE is in the jail will make immigrants think twice before calling police.

Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo said the controversy has no impact on his department's operations.

"Our message is always very clear. If you break the law and you're out there victimizing folks, we don't care if you're an illegal immigrant, a legal resident or naturalized citizen, or a person born here — we're going to treat everybody the same and that is as a criminal (suspect)," Acevedo said.

The Travis County sheriff's office says it does not investigate the legal immigration status of people they arrest or their family members.

An immigration official said agents work strictly within the confines of the jail.

"We're not identifying people here illegally and then taking that information and going out and looking for more people," Adrian Ramirez said.

jcastillo@statesman.com; 445-3635

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OK so this IS what ICE does at Sonoma County jail. Just found that out.

This is good . This is why we obey laws . Cause if you don't , what comes a round goes a round . Now she pays for a immigration attorney and we'll see what happens . WAW SOB i didn't do it i tell ya , ya dirty rat SOB

I am so sick of the same old worn out arguments. They could make a lame excuse for robbing a bank. They all deserve to be deported, children also. The fact that they are "citizens" is lame also. Hasta la vista.

Originally Posted by 31scout

I am so sick of the same old worn out arguments. They could make a lame excuse for robbing a bank. They all deserve to be deported, children also. The fact that they are "citizens" is lame also. Hasta la vista.

To me, whether or not the children should be deported depends on the father. If he is an American citizen, he should have rights to his children.

The IA problem in Austin is MUCH worse than what the liberal media and government here want to divulge to anyone! Would like to add that I was in Houston Galleria mall yesterday and today. I felt like I was in Mexico! It was unbelievable. To me, it was apparent that many of them were likely IA's. After a while it becomes fairly easy to tell. Just ask me..I have been in Texas all my life!

Nicole True, a criminal defense attorney who initially represented Maria, agrees. She says stories like hers — a reported victim of abuse who called police and now could be separated from her children — show the pitfalls of putting federal immigration agents in the county jail full time.

I'm sorry but I'm failing to see the pitfall claimed by Ms. True. Maria has beat the system for 17 years, now it's time to pay the piper. Wouldn't it be nice if ICE would investigate the rest of her family that is said to be residing in the United States. My guess is they too are illegals because she was brought here illegally 17 years ago. The big amnesty of 1986 was 22 years ago. That's one huge issue I have with ICE! They catch one illegal with family here, yet the refuse to chase down the other family members (to include extended family).

"I said, 'This is not happening to me.' I mean, I am not a criminal," Maria recalled

Yes you are and you know it! You have been living here illegally and it finally caught up with you. Bye Bye!

As for your children, you shouldn't have had them and put them into your criminal activity!

Dixie

But Maria, now 30, had a secret with the potential to throw her life into a tailspin:


I said, 'This is not happening to me.' I mean, I am not a criminal," Maria recalled,





Not a criminal but had a secret capable of throwing her life into a tailspin, huh? Seems like a contradiction in terms to me.


If these people really didn't believe they have done anything wrong, that they have not committed any crimes, then why the secrecy? The supposed hiding?

She was probably going for a U visa.

They had argued during a custody exchange of their children. Maria said that knowing her ex's history of domestic violence, she thought it wise to call police. (According to public records, her former spouse has twice been charged with assault/family violence; both cases were dismissed.)

When they arrived, police found "bleeding scratch marks" on her ex-husband's neck and forearm, according to an arrest affidavit.

Looks like she assaulted him. Too bad for her. DEPORT!