ICE mistakenly deports man to Honduras then helps him return to U.S.

On Behalf of | Oct 1, 2012 | US Immigration Law |

When Immigration and Customs Enforcement deported a South Florida man to Honduras, he thought he would not be able to return to the United States to his family or his 5-year-old daughter. According to this family, the ICE then revoked it’s decision and is now making efforts to help him return.

According to an immigration lawyer for the 31-year-old man, the government broke the law when he was initially deported back to Honduras. There was an automatic stay on the deportation pending at the time he was taken to the airport and removed to Honduras.

The man came to the U.S. as a teenager and is qualified to stay in the country under three separate provisions but was removed before he had a chance to appeal. Paperwork should have allowed him to present his case in court.

After what appears to be an erroneous deportation, the U.S. government stated in writing that it would help the man return to Florida, according to an email. Immigration legal experts have remarked that the case is very unusual. The ICE also made a statement this week that it was not aware of the court motion and proceeded with the removal without proper information.

Last month, the man was allowed to fly back to the U.S. and is currently being held at the Broward Transition Center in Pompano Beach. The family said they thought he would be released three weeks ago, but they still have not seen him. According to the ICE, the man has not been released because of a 2007 DUI conviction, but he will have a hearing.

Source: NBC Chicago, “ICE Deports South Florida Man to Honduras, Helps Him Return to US,” Willard Shepard, Sept. 18, 2012

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