Rally focus: Deportation of witness
Voice of the People USA, organizers of event, want probe into expulsion of a Hazleton homicide witness.
By Steve Mocarsky smocarsky@timesleader.com
Staff Writer

FREELAND – Supporters of Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta’s proposed illegal immigration law plan to make the inadvertent deportation of a witness in the Derek Kichline homicide the focal point of a rally planned for Sunday.

Voice of the People USA founder Dan Smeriglio said the group is asking for a congressional investigation into the deportation.

U.S. Rep. Paul Kanjorski, D-Nanticoke, said his office is looking into the matter, and an investigation at this point would be premature.

The Kichline homicide gained national attention after Barletta cited it as “the straw that broke the camel’s backâ€