Posted on 03/12/2008 8:33:18 AM PDT by SwinneySwitch
He still hasn't been recognized as a U.S. citizen by the immigration system, but all Saúl Espinoza cares about now is that he's a free man.
Espinoza, 36, was released from federal custody Monday night and allowed to rejoin his family in Boerne pending a final decision on his case.
"I can't believe it," he said by phone minutes after returning home to his five children. "I'm going to go to church, stay out of trouble, get a job and rebuild my life."
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement had detained Espinoza for nearly two months in San Antonio. The agency pursued his deportation to Mexico and obtained a judge's order this month, but then decided to take another look at the case.
By his own admission, Espinoza spent years duping authorities, eschewing criminal charges by creating a false identity as Joel Garza García, an illegal immigrant from Mexico. After being deposited south of the border, he simply made a U-turn back north, claiming U.S. citizenship.
But ICE eventually caught on to him and sought to keep him out of the country for good before reopening his case after he and his lawyer claimed he's actually a citizen and he can prove it.
Commenting on the case for the first time on Monday, ICE spokeswoman Nina Pruneda in San Antonio said Espinoza was conditionally released and must check in periodically with agents.
"Due to his extensive deceptive history, ICE is carefully reviewing his latest claim of U.S. citizenship," Pruneda said.
But Espinoza's hoping he and the agency will part ways and never have to cross paths again — when he was leaving, an agent told him he should be left alone as long as his scofflaw days are over.
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hrozemberg@express-news.net
Ping!
If you want on, or off this S. Texas/Mexico ping list, please FReepMail me.
Yep. This illegal scofflaw is probably spreading sisyphus as we sit here looking at posts.
Um... this guy’s scam for years was claiming he’s an illegal alien (and them having himself “deported” as an alternative to prison) when he was a U.S. citizen all along.
The Mexican record-keeping system has gotten better (and being deported isn’t the minor problem it used to be), and the Mexicans don’t want the guy. Unfortunately, he’s our problem.
This idiot wasted thousands and thousands of taxpayer dollars. Prosecute him on something and get him some serious prison time
He made a joke of our courts and Border Agents
Even worse he has five children to walk in his shoes
It was a poor attempt at sarcasm. I was trying to make fun of the previous posters’ use of “sisyphus” without being mean or comming off like the spelling police. I found it humorous. Of course if “sisyphus” is real I’m going to feel even more stupid.
It was a poor attempt at sarcasm. I was trying to make fun of the previous posters’ use of “sisyphus” without being mean or comming off like the spelling police. I found it humorous. Of course if “sisyphus” is real I’m going to feel even more stupid.
Egads!
“Prosecute him on something and get him some serious prison time”
The guy has an extensive rap-sheet. He’s going to do some serious time.
Very good. I despise wise guys like this. It wasn’t just one crime but many that he evaded punishment on by faking being an illegal.
Actually I’d prefer him be banished to Mexico and not let back in. The Feds should just play dumb and insist he’s a Mexican, or Guatemalan or what have you
Sisyphus - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Address:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sisyphus Changed:5:16 PM on Monday, March 10, 2008
You got me 29. I thought you were mis-spelling a common form of V.D. Can I blame it on that low octane coffee I was drinking? Just this once?
Sure, although I think the the comparison is apt. No matter how often or long we try to force the liberals and the Feds to enforce the immigration laws, they find a way not to. Just like Sisyphus, the task is done over and over and never ends.
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