Thread: UT-Legal resident deported after being nabbed on traffic vio

Legal resident deported after being nabbed on traffic violations
Immigration » His family says he had no lawyer, and that he is mentally disabled.
By Sheena Mcfarland



Updated: 05/15/2009 06:07:03 PM MDT


Miguel Soto A 25-year-old Ogden man who had legal residency was deported this week after spending nearly six weeks in the Weber County Jail on traffic charges.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement deported Miguel Soto based on the agency's vague "moral turpitude" guidelines, apparently stemming from previous misdemeanors.

But family members, who say they could not afford an attorney and that Soto had brain damage from an accident years ago, are in shock.

"If we had a lawyer, I don't think my son would be in Mexico right now," said Manuel Soto, Miguel's father and a longtime Ogden resident.

A search of court records indicates Miguel Soto's most serious crimes were a year-old conviction for criminal mischief, and two shoplifting charges from five and six years ago. All three cases were closed when he paid fines.

However, those misdemeanor convictions were apparently enough to get his permanent legal residency status revoked.

"Legal permanent residents are still guests in this country," said Lori Haley, spokeswoman for ICE. "If they are convicted of aggravated felonies or crimes of moral turpitude, they can be deported."

The situation saddened Charles Kuck, president of the American Immigration Lawyers Association.

"This is an example of yet another travesty and tragedy that is our immigration system," said Kuck, a Brigham Young University graduate.

The immigration court is a civil court, and is not required

to provide legal counsel for those who can't afford it. The court also does not take into account the mental deficiencies of a defendant, Kuck said.

While ICE's guidelines define crimes of moral turpitude as those that "shock the public conscience," such as murder, voluntary manslaughter, kidnapping, robbery or aggravated assaults, Kuck says it can be interpreted to incorporate anything but trespassing.

Soto's father, Manuel Soto has labored as a farmworker since 1974 and received a green card in 1986. He brought his son and wife to the United States to live in the early 90s. When Miguel Soto was still in elementary school, the family was in a car accident, and the boy suffered a traumatic brain injury, his father said.

"The doctors told me he'd never be the same," Manuel Soto said through a translator.

Manuel Soto is now on disability and doesn't work, and couldn't afford a lawyer for his son. He said that during his immigration court hearing, his son answered every question with a yes, even when the answer should have been no.

"He didn't know what was happening. He didn't understand," Manuel Soto said.

Miguel Soto was deported by voluntary departure and ended up in Cuidad-Juarez, a border town just across from El Paso. He has no family there and is attempting to make it several hundred miles to Guanajuato, a place he hasn't lived in since he was 10 years old.

Tony Yapias, a Latino community activist, questions Miguel Soto's ability to properly judge right from wrong.

"These people are poor, uneducated, indigent family," he said. "His dad was barely understanding why his son was deported. There was no way for this poor guy to have a chance at it."

Eli Cawley, chairman of the anti-illegal immigration Utah Minuteman Project, called the situation "deplorable."

"This highlights the overall injustice of the system. "You have someone who has played by the rules, is here legally, and it seems the only reason he was deported was because he didn't have legal representation. Those crimes don't seem enough to be considered moral turpitude," he said. "The benefit of the doubt should have been extended to this individual."

smcfarland@sltrib.com


http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_12380461

Wait, whoa.......back up the bus.

The guy suffered a traumatic brain injury when he was a CHILD which left him so mentally disabled that he didn't understand the proceedings against him relating to the deportation.

WHY was this man driving?

I don't get it.

This article smells of spin.
The title alone should give that away.
No, he wasn't deported just because he was picked up on a traffic violation

Miguel Soto's most serious crimes were a year-old

What were all the other crimes?

This guy is a criminal and a repeat trouble maker at that.

You mean to tell me that his family couldn't afford or find him an attorney in 6 months? It's called a 2nd job.

Dixie

"..His family says he had no lawyer, and that he is mentally disabled.."

Hmm, illegals will say ANYTHING to escape the law..!!

"..apparently stemming from previous misdemeanors.."

Oh, if I'm driving along with warrants for my arrest, and am stupid enough to be speeding, then I get busted..! ..it works BOTH ways idiot..! I'm sure the illegal, IF he was ‘mentally challenged’, would’ve been busted MUCH earlier..!!

"..But family members, who say they could not afford an attorney.."

Translation: they were waiting it out for FREE atty services..

"..Legal permanent residents are still guests in this country," said Lori Haley, spokeswoman for ICE. "If they are convicted of aggravated felonies or crimes of moral turpitude, they can be deported.."

Sic 'em ICE..!! ..see below..

"..Soto's father, Manuel Soto has labored as a farmworker since 1974 and received a green card in 1986. He brought his son and wife to the United States to live in the early 90s.."

translation: Yoo Hoo, I came here back in the seventies, made bookoo bucks, then found out the stupid Gringos will give me an amnesty in '86..! We illegals continued to press, demand, give SOB stories..

..then wala, there have been SIX additional amnesties since then..! stupid Gringos..!!

[you illegals AND your illegal employers WILL pay..!! ]

"..Manuel Soto said through a translator.."

Hmm, STILL hasn't learned English aye..?!

"..Tony Yapias, a so-called 'Latino' community activist.."

Translation: "Latino" is an obvious term for south of the border illegal, who wants (& in Tony's case, got, I know him ) and in MANY cases, will DEMAND a free gift they'll NEVER appreciate, amnesty..

http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_12380461 & smcfarland@sltrib.com

Hmm, 85% the papers here in UT are JUST LIKE 85% of the rest nationwide: they're bought off..!!


So, ..we 'reward' them ..by posting their crap..?!



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



Kevin James & other Radio: www.alipac.us/ftopict-139157-.html

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



PS:

I.C.E. www.ice.gov
Report anonymously if you like, but REPORT!
866.347.2423 24/7/365!
More government agencies worth mentioning..!
F.B.I. www.fbi.gov/homepage.htm
Border Patrol www.cbp.gov
D.E.A. www.usdoj.gov/dea/index.htm
N.S.A. www.nsa.gov/home_html.cfm
C.I.A. www.cia.gov
I.R.S. www.irs.gov
F.C.C. www.fcc.gov REPORT the Spanish Stations aiding & abetting, etc..!
“..If YOU don’t act, NOTHING Happens..!â€

Legal resident deported after being nabbed on traffic violations

That's a lie! His legal residency status was revoked prior to deportation.

I still want to know what in the H-E-L-L he was doing driving if his mental capacity is so freaking diminished!!!!