Thread: ACLU 'Immigrant Poster Boy' Turns Out to Be Huge ID Thief!

Immigrant’s Criminal Past Colors a Group’s Legal Challenge to Detetions

By NINA BERNSTEIN
Published: June 11, 2009

The news media campaign was all set to go. There was even a Web site ready with a sympathetic profile of Alexander Alli, 49, the man the American Civil Liberties Union had chosen as the lead plaintiff in a lawsuit seeking custody hearings for more than 1,000 legal immigrants long locked up while they challenged the government’s efforts to deport them on the basis of criminal convictions.

But at the last minute someone at the civil liberties union checked the details of Mr. Alli’s criminal history. It turned out that Mr. Alli, a native of Ghana whose wife and three children, all United States citizens, live in the Bronx, had taken part in one of the biggest cases of identity theft in this country.

At least 30,000 people nationwide had been victimized in an intricate scheme by a loosely knit ring of 30 people, mostly Nigerian immigrants, according to law enforcement authorities and court documents. More than $50 million had been drained from credit cards and bank accounts.

Oops.

Not a perfect poster boy. The press release and the Web site were scuttled, and lawyers even considered dropping Mr. Alli in favor of a plaintiff whose offense was less serious. But last month, the lawsuit went forward in his name — without publicity.

The case shows the difficulties of making an important constitutional argument on behalf of a not-always-sympathetic group: people battling deportation based on past crimes. Maria Archuleta, a spokeswoman for the civil liberties organization, called the original plan to showcase Mr. Alli a mistake, saying, “We have learned a very hard lesson to more thoroughly check all of our clients.â€

Does Congress read this NEWS

Originally Posted by vmonkey56

Does Congress read this NEWS

Not even when I copy and snail mail them these articles.

Originally Posted by vmonkey56

Does Congress read this NEWS

ya really gotta ask that question, dont ya????

how to make Mo Money with Yo Money

Originally Posted by cayla99

Originally Posted by vmonkey56

Does Congress read this NEWS

Not even when I copy and snail mail them these articles.

I don't know how much good it would do: My latest thought is to get something through to Sen Sessions or others on the Senate Judiciary, ask them to get it in the Congressional Record and see if it could be read aloud at Schumer's hearings. Is it possible? Any better ideas? We need to get the Republicans to hold together on the Jud. Committee.

But such crimes, which include violent felonies, can also be as minor as evading a subway fare. All the detainees have already been punished, and many have a legitimate claim to stay in the United States that can take months or years to resolve. Meanwhile, they remain behind bars at taxpayer expense, advocates say, often to the detriment of relatives who are citizens.

Forget "many", I don't think "any" have a legitimate claim to stay in the U.S. They are supposed to prove they have "good moral character". People who are Americans already do not have to prove this, but people who want to become Americans do. Someone who doesn't pay a subway fare is lacking in morals. That should put him/her out of the game.

IN YOUR FACE ACLU! Americans are sick and tired of illegal immigrants and the people who support them.

Lets make him our poster boy when arguing against the ACLU.

Originally Posted by Ratbstard

Lets make him our poster boy when arguing against the AC LU.

Excellent idea Ratbstard.