Lincoln Park Husband & Dad Deported to Mexico after Living in the US for 30 Years

[bust]

After living in the U.S. for 30 years, Jorge Garcia, from Lincoln Park, was deported this morning from Metro Airport to Mexico. Escorted by ICE agents, he said goodbye to wife and 2 children before boarding the plane.

He was brought to U.S. when he was 10 years old -- too old to qualify for DACA. His wife and two children are U.S. citizens.

After 30 years in U.S., 39 Year-Old Metro Detroit Immigrant Deported to Mexico
https://www.freep.com/story/news/loc...on/1033296001/

"His supporters say he has no criminal record — not even a traffic ticket — and pays taxes every year."

"But because of the Trump administration's immigration crackdown, Garcia was ordered in November to return to Mexico."

"Garcia said he had asked ICE if they could wait until new DACA legislation is passed, which might expand the age range for immigrants to qualify. But, he said, they refused and said he had to leave by Jan. 15."

"Garcia's case is the latest example of immigrants who previously would have been allowed to remain in the U.S., but not now as the U.S. seeks to remove more immigrants."

"Garcia went through security as supporters around him held up signs that read, “Stop Separating Families.”"

[Chicago48]

These type stories make me sad. There should have been legislation and policies in place for people like this man years ago. Ironically there were a lot of Mid-Easterns and Latinos who voted for Trump, I betcha they have voter's remorse.

[JBMcB]

Ironically there were a lot of Mid-Easterns and Latinos who voted for Trump, I betcha they have voter's remorse.

Uh, you could say the exact same thing about Obama.

[aj3647]

Uh, you could say the exact same thing about Obama.

Not the same. Was Obama deporting people like this man? No. How do I know? Because this guy lived for eight years under Obama and had immigration action against him deferred for that entire time period. Looking at raw numbers is misleading, it doesn't tell you WHO is being deported or why.

Obama's deportation efforts were focused on two groups: recent undocumented arrivals and those with criminal records. Obama specifically prioritized enforcement efforts to NOT target people like Jorge Garcia who have lived here for decades, have American families, are gainfully employed, pay taxes, and obey the law.

[Richard]

Not the same. Was Obama deporting people like this man? No. How do I know? Because this guy lived for eight years under Obama and had immigration action against him deferred for that entire time period. Looking at raw numbers is misleading, it doesn't tell you WHO is being deported or why.

Obama's deportation efforts were focused on two groups: recent undocumented arrivals and those with criminal records. Obama specifically prioritized enforcement efforts to NOT target people like Jorge Garcia who have lived here for decades, have American families, are gainfully employed, pay taxes, and obey the law.

Read his history,he was up for deportation 3 times under the previous administration each time he hired a lawyer and received a temporary stay until the outcome was determined.

He said he was useing that stall tactic to buy time in hopes that the system would change,so he was picked for deportation years ago,bought time and now exhausted his options,he took a risk and lost.

His other option was to self deport,he has been married 15 years,he could have been legal 14 years of that already,he made a bad choice and now is paying that price for his and nobody's else's decisions.

Ask them to print the real story with all of the facts,Ice has columns he needed two checks from those columns to be one the radar even back then and being here illegally was only one of this checks but not a priority,tell them to publicly say what the other disqualifier was.

[Honky Tonk]

These type stories make me sad. There should have been legislation and policies in place for people like this man years ago. Ironically there were a lot of Mid-Easterns and Latinos who voted for Trump, I betcha they have voter's remorse.

How about Obama and Dems people? They had 8 years to put something in place, and just kicked the can down the road. Now they're going to blame this on Trump and his Reps, and people are going to put the same people back in office that caused this in the first place. That being said, something needs to be put in place for people like Mr. Garcia.

[Bham1982]

How about Obama and Dems people? They had 8 years to put something in place, and just kicked the can down the road.

That's not true. For 8 years, Obama worked on immigration reform, and the Republicans stonewalled the whole way. There would be a plan if not for a few hardcore nativists.

You can blame Obama for not ramming it through before healthcare [[when he had the votes, before losing Congress), but the previous administration always pushed for a reform package.

[Richard]

That's not true. For 8 years, Obama worked on immigration reform, and the Republicans stonewalled the whole way. There would be a plan if not for a few hardcore nativists.

You can blame Obama for not ramming it through before healthcare [[when he had the votes, before losing Congress), but the previous administration always pushed for a reform package.

If that was the case then how come the deportation of convicted felons ramped up,even some that were convicted 30 years ago.

He issued executive orders for everything else,the only difference between now and then is that he did it quietly without fanfare.

It was easier during his tenure because it was known to relax and the adverage person could buy a marriage for $1500 without fear of prosecution.

[Wesley Mouch]

That's not true. For 8 years, Obama worked on immigration reform, and the Republicans stonewalled the whole way. There would be a plan if not for a few hardcore nativists.

You can blame Obama for not ramming it through before healthcare [[when he had the votes, before losing Congress), but the previous administration always pushed for a reform package.

If stonewalling means not agreeing, then I suppose you're right.

From the other side, an amnesty was not an acceptable proposal. You may disagree, but its not an unreasonable position, nor is it racist.

As to this fine gentlemen, after 30 years, he didn't know that he needed to 'self deport'? Conyers doesn't provide immigration help for families that tells them their rights?

Mr. Garcia didn't have access to the public library to research immigration rules? Mrs. Garcia can't move to Mexico so the family can stay together?

This story is sad. And it would be better if it didn't happen this way. But jumping to partisan conclusions doesn't help.

Mr. Garcia had options over the last 30 years. He knew he was here illegally. I'm all for improvements to our immigration laws, but I do respect that all nations need to define and protect citizenship, as a basic right.

[mikeg19]

I was going to comment, but there's no use trying to talk to Trump supporters without it reverting to prepubescent name calling.

Good luck to you Mr. Garcia. I hope everything works out for you and your family.

[Honky Tonk]

You can blame Obama for not ramming it through before healthcare [[when he had the votes, before losing Congress), but the previous administration always pushed for a reform package.

Glad you brought up the ACA. He could've rammed THAT through too when he had the chance, but instead played around with politics and singing Cum Ba Ya, and came up with something unsustainable. He did take some cute photos with children. I voted for him twice.

[Zacha341]

Yes, it was can kicked. Correct me if I am wrong but sad as this story is did the gentleman not have ample time to start the process to become a US citizen?? If you are illegal you should not be able to go to the front of the line of becoming a citizen but you do have to get in line, at some point where that is applicable.

How about Obama and Dems people? They had 8 years to put something in place, and just kicked the can down the road. Now they're going to blame this on Trump and his Reps, and people are going to put the same people back in office that caused this in the first place. That being said, something needs to be put in place for people like Mr. Garcia.

[DetBill]

How about Obama and Dems people? They had 8 years to put something in place, and just kicked the can down the road. Now they're going to blame this on Trump and his Reps, and people are going to put the same people back in office that caused this in the first place. That being said, something needs to be put in place for people like Mr. Garcia.

i believe Obama had tried immigration reform but Republicans immediately blocked anything, as they did the last several years on any issue Obama addressed. Health care was the one exception, but that took 18 months to pass, [[ Republicans complained the process was rammed through too " quickly ", only to watch them try to " ram " healthcare overhall in 2 to 5 days, most incredible and it thankfully failed at its own hands) . Trump has made it very clear this deportation process will amp up..Should be interesting to watch the furthur divide this will cause come election time. Breaking up families of people who have been law abiding will not go well with many, others think its fine..I think the voter turnout will significantly increase due to this, as Alabama, New Jersey and Virginia vividly displayed.

[Chicago48]

How about Obama and Dems people? They had 8 years to put something in place, and just kicked the can down the road. Now they're going to blame this on Trump and his Reps, and people are going to put the same people back in office that caused this in the first place. That being said, something needs to be put in place for people like Mr. Garcia.

You do remember that the Republicans have ruled the Congress for the last decade?

[Honky Tonk]

You do remember that the Republicans have ruled the Congress for the last decade?

Did they also rule the House, Senate, and the Oval Office?

[aj3647]

How about Obama and Dems people? They had 8 years to put something in place, and just kicked the can down the road. Now they're going to blame this on Trump and his Reps, and people are going to put the same people back in office that caused this in the first place. That being said, something needs to be put in place for people like Mr. Garcia.

Republicans controlled the House of Representatives for six of those eight years. But yeah, it's all Obama's fault. When he DID take unilateral action on immigration [[like DACA), you conservatives would froth at the mouth with rage and call him a dictator and declare that he was violating the Constitution. Now you're criticizing him for NOT doing that?

And then you're going to have the audacity to say that we shouldn't actually blame the Administration who took the deliberate step of revoking Obama's policy of not targeting established undocumented immigrants without a criminal history? So Trump's not responsible for his deliberate actions, but Obama is at fault for not being a dictator and abolishing Congress?

[Honky Tonk]

Republicans controlled the House of Representatives for six of those eight years. But yeah, it's all Obama's fault. When he DID take unilateral action on immigration [[like DACA), you conservatives would froth at the mouth with rage and call him a dictator and declare that he was violating the Constitution. Now you're criticizing him for NOT doing that?

And then you're going to have the audacity to say that we shouldn't actually blame the Administration who took the deliberate step of revoking Obama's policy of not targeting established undocumented immigrants without a criminal history? So Trump's not responsible for his deliberate actions, but Obama is at fault for not being a dictator and abolishing Congress?

"Did they also rule the House, Senate, and the Oval Office?"

[aj3647]

"Did they also rule the House, Senate, and the Oval Office?"

You don't understand how our system of government works do you? Things like separation of powers? The power to legalize the immigration status of someone like Jorge Garcia rests with the legislative role of Congress, not with the Executive Branch.

Also, you DO know that the House and Senate are part of Congress, right?

I think you might be advised to watch some Schoolhouse Rock videos or other educational content designed to teach the basic principles of American governance to 8-year olds.

[oladub]

Republicans controlled the House of Representatives for six of those eight years. But yeah, it's all Obama's fault. When he DID take unilateral action on immigration [[like DACA), you conservatives would froth at the mouth with rage and call him a dictator and declare that he was violating the Constitution. Now you're criticizing him for NOT doing that?

And then you're going to have the audacity to say that we shouldn't actually blame the Administration who took the deliberate step of revoking Obama's policy of not targeting established undocumented immigrants without a criminal history? So Trump's not responsible for his deliberate actions, but Obama is at fault for not being a dictator and abolishing Congress?

aj, You seem to be working overtime promoting the interests of illegal non-citizens and the US Chamber of Commerce over American workers today. Let President Obama, in his own words explain why what he eventually did with executive orders was unconstitutional. He made 22 such statements before going rogue and announcing he had a pen. Had he gone through Congress, and he did have that opportunity for two years, Trump wouldn't be able to use executive orders to erase Obama's unconstitutional, by Obama's own words, executive orders on immigration. Here is one of Obama's 22 such statements:

1. “[T]here are those in the immigrants’ rights community who have argued passionately that we should simply provide those who are [here] illegally with legal status, or at least ignore the laws on the books and put an end to deportation until we have better laws. ... I believe such an indiscriminate approach would be both unwise and unfair. It would suggest to those thinking about coming here illegally that there will be no repercussions for such a decision. And this could lead to a surge in more illegal immigration. And it would also ignore the millions of people around the world who are waiting in line to come here legally. Ultimately, our nation, like all nations, has the right and obligation to control its borders and set laws for residency and citizenship. And no matter how decent they are, no matter their reasons, the 11 million who broke these laws should be held accountable.” [[7/1/10) Then our 'constitutional scholar' President morphed into the guy who said that he had a pen to write executive order and that as president, he could do whatever he wanted [[at 1min 15sec).

[Bham1982]

Idiotic, and disgusting waste of resources, but this is what the Trump cultists love.

As long as Trump is destroying the lives of black and Hispanic families, the cult will remain loyal. White-Supremacist-in-Chief is doing his best to make non-redneck Americans as miserable as possible before his inevitable removal.

[313WX]

If his wife is a US Citizen, how does he not have legal status?

[Bong-Man]

And not one mention of who employed this man for 30 years.

[Bham1982]

And not one mention of who employed this man for 30 years.

I seriously doubt he was working as a 9-year-old.

And I don't see the relevance, unless you're actively seeking to destroy more families.

[Richard]

He can be legally married in the eyes of the state but not immigration.

He would have had to leave,pay the $2500 fine on exit,then go through the process,you have to meet your love in their country,have documented records of those visits,apply for a fiancé visa which then gives you permission to marry and apply for citizenship.

Pretty much a five year process,unless you have cash and then $25,000 to $50,000 buys papers in a round about way.

Even at that we still have the most screwed up immigration process but easiest compared to other countries,it is more of a business revenue generator.

Immigration does not view the separation of families as an inconvenience because military families are separated for extended periods of time and most cases the only person that can override the decision is the US attorney general himself.

If he was married and self deported,paid the fine he could have been back in under a year leagly,now he is out with a 10 year re-entry ban before he can even reapply.

If he would have self deported in November as ordered he could have reapplied immediately,now it will be impossible.

Totaly pointless to be yelling at ICE,they are doing what taxpayers pay them to do,their job.

The energy needs to be directed to the US attorney general which is pretty much the only single person that can institute change.

[DetroiterOnTheWestCoast]

I know I feel a lot safer now that we have used our limited resources to depart a hard-working family man. Most likely a Catholic; lets get rid of them.

Personally, I think we should investigate Melania's reported violation of her visa during her "modeling" years when she was taking jobs away from U.S. citizens. Perhaps deport her back to her Slavic country. Ironically, the Slavic countries were considered shitholes by our nativist purists not that long ago. Due to the hue of their skin that is no longer the case.

Do any of you nativists actually have first hand knowledge of our immigration system? My partner and I helped an immigrant friend about 18 years ago when things were much easier. His half-sister [[who had an American father) and his parents were naturalized citizens. He made a minor slip-up [[nothing criminal just some reporting confusion) when here on a student visa and it literally took us years, thousands of dollars, and a top-notch immigration lawyer to navigate the system. Its not like it was when your grandparents or great-grandparents hopped on a boat in Europe, arrived here broke and stifled their coughs at Ellis Island to appear healthy.