Could the new Arizona law make it worse?
FILE - In this April 23, 2010 file photo, Gov. Jan Brewer signs into law, bill SB1070 dealing with illegal immigration during a news conference at the Arizona Department of Transportation in Phoenix.According to CNN researchers, every year hundreds of Americans are wrongfully deported. Howen Francis was deported to Jamaica after serving a year’s jail sentence for an assault charge in 1999. He told authorities that he thought he was a citizen since he was born in the United States, but he didn’t have the paperwork or access to an attorney to prove it.
When he completed his one year in jail after an assault charge, Francis thought his mistake was in the past. The assault charge stemmed from him throwing rocks at others in a fight when he was 18 years old. The day he was to be released from jail, Francis expected to be greeted by loved ones. Instead, agents came to deport him.
Francis claimed he had no options to fight the charges after he couldn't provide the paperwork or get access to an attorney, so he signed his own deportation papers. Francis told CNN he could either remain in custody with no end date in sight, or he could be released to freedom in Jamaica.
Rachel Rosenbloom, a professor from Northwestern School of Law who is an expert in immigration law, said that these cases are more common than many think. Rosenbloom told CNN that with the new Arizona law coming into effect, we may see even more American citizens wrongfully deported.
Legal representation is not provided for those who are accused of illegal immigration during a deportation case.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) sent CNN a statement saying, “ICE never knowingly details or removes U.S. citizens and the agency has a number of safeguards in place to ensure that this does not occur.”
Watch Francis’ full story here:
What's being said about the Arizona immigration law:
»USA Today:Mexico braces for effects of immigration law
»New York Daily News: Arizona immigration law takes effect July 29, but anger over immigration has been in state for years
»Huffington Post: Phoenix, we have a problem...