Posted on 09/18/2008 7:03:23 PM PDT by XR7
A gay Jamaican man one of the longest-held detainees at the Northwest Detention Center has won a second chance to remain in the United States after a federal appeals court in a ruling this week pointed to a "pattern and practice of persecution" of gays in his Caribbean homeland.
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ordered an immigration judge to reconsider the case of Damion Bromfield, who is seeking something akin to political asylum 15 years after he first came to the U.S. as a legal immigrant and more than a decade after he came out as gay.
The 30-year-old, who grew up in the Portland area, says he's convinced he would be beaten and killed if ordered back to Jamaica.
The ruling could have implications for other gays caught up in the U.S. immigration system.
"This ruling sets an important precedent for individuals who fear they will be persecuted because of their sexual identity in their home countries," said Matt Adams, legal director of the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, which represented Bromfield before the federal appeals court.
"The court has said it's not just this case, that right now in Jamaica there is this pattern and practice of persecution of gays."
Bromfield came out as gay when he was 19. About four years ago, he pleaded guilty to misdemeanor sex-related charges involving an underage gay partner and spent less than a year in jail. He was later picked up by immigration officials and for the past 43 months has been held in detention in Tacoma. Although he has a green card and is in the U.S. legally, Bromfield is subject to deportation because he was convicted of a crime.
Acting without an attorney, Bromfield sought what's called "withholding of removal,"...similar to political asylum...
(Excerpt) Read more at seattletimes.nwsource.com ...
It sure will.
Open the floodgates for every pervert to claim "persecution" in their home country, and we will let 'em stay here. Such an open-minded, tolerant bunch we are. Suckers.
9th circuit nutcases-hopefully smarter heads prevail
Why has the government not deported this child molester/rapist? You know if the child was female he would be out of here.
Is that the reason so many gays like to vacation there?
I read about this.
The guy was going to run the second leg for the Jamaicans in the 4 x 100 relay in Beijing and hand the baton off to Usain Bolt.
But in the Jamaican Olympic trials he dropped the baton and some asshole picked it up. He was disqualified.
perversion ping.
Probably he was in an unfamiliar position, more used to catching.
Say WA? Evergreen State ping
FReepmail sionnsar if you want on or off this ping list.
Ping sionnsar if you see a Washington state related thread.
ping
Talk about your tropical fruits.
Known on the island as a "batty boy."
The gay part doesn’t upset me as much as the “chicken hawk” part.
Ratid!
LOL!
IMAGINE MY SURPRISE TONIGHT WHEN AT KROGER GREEN HILLS HERE SHOPPING WITH DAUGHTER NUMBER ONE VERY LATE, WE DISCOVERED A JAMAICAN SECTION
IRISH MOSS, GINGER BEER, SPICE BUN, GUNGO PEAS, AND WHATNOT....TO INDULGE MY SUDDEN NOSTALGIA, I AM NOW MUNCHING ON SOME SPICE BUN WITH ANCHOR BUTTER AND HAVING A D&G GINGER BEER
BOUGHT A FEW TING FOR THE WIFE...
Why are you yelling?
hard of hearing
That Ginger Beer kicks A$$. I like the one that has posted on it that it has 26 grams of ginger, plus lemon and honey. Dynomite stuff.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.