Should Dallas teen deported to Colombia apologize for lying about her identity?

Charles BassettCharles.Bassett@cw33.com
9:21 p.m. CST, January 11, 2012

Dallas, Texas—

Jakadrien Turner and her family were silent as she arrived at the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport.

But just days before she returned, the family had plenty to say about who was to blame for Jakadrien being deported to Colombia.

"I just don't understand how it could happen. Someone made a goof and I think it was ICE", said Jakadrien’s grandmother Lorene Turner.

But on the web and in print, people are calling for Jakadrien to take responsibility for lying to authorities about her identity which led to her getting deported.

Steve Blow is a columnist with The Dallas Morning News and says he has been flooded with responses since writing piece saying Jakadrien has no one to blame but herself.

"All the news stories seem to make her a victim of this and it all began with her lies. She claimed to be a 21 year old from Colombia and as far as I can tell, never backtracked from that", Blow said.

Blow says he was even more stunned when the family's attorney said he would go after those responsible for violating Jakadrien's civil rights.

"How do you have a civil rights violation when you've got someone who's basically lying to authorities holding herself out to be someone else and not even a U.S. citizen", Blow said.

On-line postings are echoing the same sentiment -- some even calling for Jakadrien to be prosecuted for lying. The newspaper is also getting letters asking for an apology.

Maura Schreier-Fleming is among those would like to see some contrition from Jakadrien.

"Ideally that's the right thing to do. She caused a lot of pain and by apologizing she would realize that she did something wrong and ideally not do something like this again", Schreier-Fleming said.

Deported Dallas teen now being asked to apologize for lying - KDAF