Thread: MN: Local advocate for immigrants faces deportation

Local advocate for immigrants faces deportation

Mariano Espinoza hasn't been hiding. But a recent arrest has him facing removal.

By JAMES WALSH and ALLIE SHAH, Star Tribune staff writers

Last update: March 9, 2011 - 9:23 PM

A vocal and visible Twin Cities advocate for immigrant rights and immigration reform is himself facing deportation -- to the surprise of those who have worked with him for years.

Mariano Perez Espinoza, 41, executive director of the Minnesota Immigrant Freedom Network, is in jail awaiting deportation for allegedly being in the country illegally after a previous deportation.

Espinoza, a native of Mexico, has advocated openly on immigration issues for years.

Shawn Neudauer, a spokesman for the local U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office, on Wednesday confirmed that Espinoza is in custody. As of Wednesday afternoon, he had not been returned to Mexico.

"He's not leaving today," Neudauer said. "Mariano Espinoza is currently being held by ICE pending additional review of his case for violating a previous removal order. He had filed a request for a stay of removal with ICE, which was subsequently denied."

The news of the well-connected Espinoza's possible deportation surprised friends and colleagues.

State Rep. Carlos Mariani, DFL-St. Paul, has known Espinoza for years. He described his friend as a self-taught organizer and inspirational leader.

He said the two worked together on a proposal for the Minnesota Dream Act, which would provide in-state tuition rates for high school students, regardless of their parents' immigration status.

"Mariano was the point person in charge of leading that effort and organizing students," Mariani said.

Until recently, Mariani did not know about his friend's immigration status. Then, two weeks ago, Espinoza didn't show up for a meeting to discuss creating a statewide series of leadership conferences of young Latinos. Mariani called the next day and learned that Espinoza was in custody and facing deportation.

He visited Espinoza a few days ago at the Ramsey County jail.

"He was very sad and emotional, but he was also trying to keep himself focused," Mariani said.

Not exactly hiding

Despite his illegal status, Espinoza hasn't kept a low profile. He's been a frequent speaker at rallies and meetings and has been quoted in news stories dealing with immigrant issues. In April 2004, he was featured in a Star Tribune story focusing on his transformation from immigrant to community organizer.

The Minnesota Immigrant Freedom Network's website notes he was recently recognized by the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Minnesota as one of its "25 on the rise."

The organization's mission is to "fix the broken immigration system in this country. We do this by empowering and engaging new Minnesotans and their allies through access to education, civic engagement and leadership development."

Espinoza's absence has not stopped the work.

"He's been an important part of the work of the Freedom Network for a long time, but Mariano is not the organization," said Jorge Saavedra, a Minneapolis attorney and a network spokesman. "What the organization hopes for is that this process can be resolved quickly and justly and that Mariano can return to his family."

That someone as visible as Espinoza can be here without documentation is a sign of the times, Mariani said.

"What I think is happening is that so many people live here undocumented. At some point you reach a tipping point where you are so much a part of society. Yeah, you can live in the underground, but ... what we're talking about is folks who are really becoming a part of the very visible broader community -- they own businesses, they own homes, they take their kids to school, they attend parent-teacher conferences and they're involved in local block clubs."

Trouble last summer

The most recent trouble for Espinoza apparently began last July. Several sources say he got into a dispute regarding a rental car at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.

A spokeswoman for the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office said an incident at the airport led to a felony warrant for Espinoza's arrest last month. Hennepin County jail records confirm that he was booked into the jail on Feb. 14. ICE regularly checks jail records in Hennepin and Ramsey counties for people in this country illegally who have been arrested for other alleged crimes. Espinoza's immigration status apparently was discovered.

Espinoza's attorney, John Keller, declined to comment on details of the case. He did say that he hopes Espinoza has a chance to present his case to an immigration court here.

Keller said the original deportation stemmed from Espinoza being the victim of fraud by a "notario," or a person who is not an attorney who gave him legal advice.

http://www.startribune.com/local/117706183.html

Mariano Perez Espinoza, 41, executive director of the Minnesota Immigrant Freedom Network, is in jail awaiting deportation for allegedly being in the country illegally after a previous deportation.

The ones protesting on Facebook.com and planing rallies, stating they are not afraid to be out in the opening should read this news article, maybe they will have a change of thoughts about not being afraid to come out of closets.

Espinoza's attorney, John Keller, declined to comment on details of the case. He did say that he hopes Espinoza has a chance to present his case to an immigration court here.

This is where our system is failing. This criminal invader has already one deportation under his belt and he re-entered the country after that deportation. There should be no more immigration hearings, no more chances no more anything, unless they are going to try him for felony re-entry!

He should simply be gone and told if he ever shows up on US soil again, he will face felony re-entry charges that can fetch as much as 20 years in a federal prision.

Now get him out!

Deport his butt and have the press there when he is tossed out of the country. Make him a posterboy. One that we can show this is what happens when you come here illegally. Also take all his funds and property and sell it off and proceeds go to immigration sweeps and deportations.

GOOD - NOW HE CAN ADVOCATE FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FROM OTHER COUNTRIES IN HIS HOME COUNTRY OF MEXICO - COME ON, MARIANO, STOP THE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT "HATE" IN MEXICO AND LET YOUR COUNTRY BE OVER-RUN WITH ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS AND COLLECT WELFARE BENEFITS FROM MEXICAN CITIZENS - IT'S ONLY FAIR!!!!

forgien nationals who are in our country illegally are trying to influnce public opinion and laws ....

this is a direct threat to our national security .

Immigrant rights activist is released from custody

Mariano Espinoza still faces deportation, but he is out of jail on "supervised release."

By ALLIE SHAH, Star Tribune

Last update: March 14, 2011 - 9:43 PM


A high-profile immigrant rights activist who is facing deportation is out of jail.

Mariano Espinoza, executive director of the Minnesota Immigrant Freedom Network, was released Friday from the Ramsey County jail in St. Paul.

"He is currently out on a supervised release," said Shawn Neudauer, a spokesman for the local U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office, in a written statement.

For nearly a month, Espinoza has been in jail awaiting deportation for allegedly being in the country illegally after a previous deportation to his native Mexico.

He could not be reached for comment Monday.

John Keller, an attorney who represents Espinoza, would not say where he is, nor would he comment on his release, except to say: "We are hoping for our chance in court."

At issue is whether Espinoza should be granted a hearing to argue that he should not have been deported the first time.

Meanwhile, the immigrant rights group he has led in such a visible way must decide how to continue in his absence.

"At this point, he remains the executive director," said Jorge Saavedra, a Minneapolis attorney and spokesman for the Minnesota Immigrant Freedom Network.

"The board has made some contingency plans in terms of redistributing his duties, but ... has not yet made a decision about his employment status. They're in that wait-and-see mode."

A frequent speaker at rallies and meetings, Espinoza was also featured in a 2004 Star Tribune article about his transformation from immigrant to community organizer.

Espinoza's supporters were not expecting the phone calls on Friday announcing his release.

"His release came as a huge surprise to everyone," Saavedra said. "People were incredulous that he was calling saying, 'Hey, pick me up.'"

Sources say that Espinoza's latest troubles with immigration authorities stem from a dispute over a rental car at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport last July.

According to an airport police report, he rented a car and did not return it. Police found the car and impounded it. They contacted Espinoza and he did not respond to police inquiries.

A warrant was issued, Espinoza was located and he was booked in the Hennepin County jail Feb. 14 on the car rental matter. His immigration status was later discovered by ICE officials who regularly check jail records in Hennepin and Ramsey counties.

http://www.startribune.com/local/117980014.html

For nearly a month, Espinoza has been in jail awaiting deportation for allegedly being in the country illegally after a previous deportation to his native Mexico.

We have a previously deported illegal invader who was allowed to sit in jail for a MONTH without being deported! Now they release him! There is no reason whatsoever why this criminal illegal invader is still in this country, let alone being released!

We cannot even get those who are in custody (after having already been deported once) deported in a timely manner without being released and allowed to fight their deportation case!