Thread: Henry Officer Arrested On Illegal Immigration Charge, Sheriff Balks (updated)

By: Ken Curtis
Updated: December 4, 2012
dothanfirst.com

A reserve Henry County deputy who is the I.T. director for the sheriff's office has been arrested on illegal immigration and firearms charges. Kevin Dwight Venhuis, 46, was taken into custody late Monday by Department of Homeland Security special agents.

A federal probable cause filing indicates immigration authorities were notified of Venhuis' illegal status. "On June 18, 2009, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service denied (a petition) for the spousal relationship which would have allowed (the wife) to confer immigration benefits to Venhuis was terminated." An investigation showed the officer had been married to a U.S. citizen but later divorced. It also appears immigration authorities believe Venhuis was never granted permanent residency or citizenship.

"It's just wrong," said Sheriff Will Maddox, reacting to the officer's arrest. "He's been here 25 years-- working, owning businesses, and paying taxes." The sheriff said Venhuis furnished computers for his office because adequate funds were not available to purchase them.

Maddox said he was aware there was an immigration issue involving Venhuis but claims every attempt has been made to resolve it. "We've been to the immigration office in Atlanta, met with (former Attorney General) Troy King, and Venhuis has even hired an immigration attorney."

"I am going to continue trying to help him get all this mess straightened out," Maddox said. "He's a great guy and this is wrong---just plain wrong,"

Alabama recently adopted tougher immigration laws, most of which have been upheld by Federal courts.

If convicted of the firearms charge, Venhuis could face up to ten years in prison.

Henry Officer Arrested On Illegal Immigration Charge, Sheriff Balks

By The Associated Press
on December 13, 2012 at 5:21 PM

MONTGOMERY, Alabama — Illegal immigration charges have been dismissed against a Canadian man who served as a reserve sheriff's deputy in southeast Alabama.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Wallace Capel dismissed the charges Monday at about the same time the 46-year-old Henry County reserve deputy, Kevin Dwight Venhuis, was scheduled to appear before him for a hearing.

Venhuis volunteered as a reserve deputy for the sheriff's department for 25 years. His immigration status became an issue when he was divorced from his wife, an American citizen. He was arrested last week during a traffic stop.

Bryan Cox, a spokesman for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said the government asked that the charges be dismissed, but he did not give a reason.

A resident of Abbeville, Venhuis was charged with being an illegal immigrant and possessing firearms without proper U.S. citizenship.

Henry County Sheriff William Maddox said earlier Venhuis volunteered for the department for years, and the fact he was Canadian was never an issue because he was married to an American woman.

But Maddox told the Dothan Eagle that Venhuis' citizenship became an issue because he got a divorce. The sheriff said Venhuis runs his own computer business in Henry County and does all the computer maintenance work for the sheriff's department.

Government dismisses immigration charge that targeted reserve deputy from Canada | al.com

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