Posted on 12/05/2006 4:24:49 PM PST by Kid Shelleen
The Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday that legal immigrants cannot be deported when convicted of relatively minor drug-possession offenses, a decision likely to affect thousands of people.
By an 8-1 vote, the high court handed a setback to the Bush administration and ruled the immigrants cannot be deported for drug offenses that are felony crimes under some state laws, but less serious misdemeanors under federal law.
A number of civil rights, immigrant advocacy and criminal defense groups, along with former U.S. government immigration lawyers, had urged the Supreme Court to reject the administration's position
--snip-- The case before the court involved Jose Antonio Lopez, a Mexican native who became a legal resident in 1990. He was arrested in South Dakota in 1997 and pleaded guilty to cocaine possession. He served 15 months of a five-year prison sentence.
(Excerpt) Read more at today.reuters.com ...
When an immigrant becomes a burden, it's time to ship them back. Doing 15 months in the hole is a burden on society.
The feds can rewrite the part of the law defining an "aggravated felony." That is, if they have the will.
Agreed. Victory for la Raza, Pelosi, Bush etc.
Ahh America, the land of 10,000 fools and every last one of them in positions of power to one degree or another.
Law means NOTHING, it's all about who has the power and the will to abuse it.
If this isn't a defeat what is it?
It's a spanking, at least.
and in an interesting contrast for an American citizen convicted of a relatively minor drug offense
Supreme Court Lets Stand 55-Year Jail Term ^
Posted by kiriath_jearim
On News/Activism ^ 12/04/2006 2:25:37 PM PST · 130 replies · 1,965+ views
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1748400/posts
So many on FR have jumped ship and consider Bush as just another enemy. They will just love Hillary I guess.
Now, if the Supremes would do something about citizens getting their doors battered down in the middle of the night, having their pets shot, and spending hours prone and handcuffed on their own floor with a boot on their necks and guns at their heads; or maybe even killed by paramilitary forces for the same thing.........
Nah, never will happen.
The LPotheads vs. the border bots. Hmmm. Grab the popcorn.
Ok, what's the contrast, it says the bum became a legal resident in 1990 so he was an American citizen.
Attaching any additional penalty to "minor drug offenses" is just silly. Okay, so we have prohibition. Fine. We have laws to punish people who do drugs. Most people are content with just a slap on the wrist because half our population does it at some time or another. That should be it.
But the idea of denying someone a low-cost loan so that they can attend college and get a good job and be an important part of our economy, because they were arrested for possession of a joint, is pretty damn stupid. Mean and petty.
And please don't use the argument that "He should have known that *marijuana* would ruin his life." That is utter crapola. If his life is ruined, it is solely because of the government. As much as if he was punished for belonging to the wrong race.
The same with deporting a legal citizen, who spent 10 damn years of hard work to earn their citizenship.
That is not even like having a death penalty for drug abuse, it is like authorizing police to shoot to death anyone they catch they suspect of being a druggie. Totally beyond the pale.
The ACLU and the Rats win again...
What is wrong with this country?
Citizens are sentenced to years in jail. Congress-critters and illegals get a slap on the wrist. Plus free health care.
ping
"it is like authorizing police to shoot to death anyone they catch they suspect of being a druggie."
That I would like to see!
I'll offer up one fo my cousins to be first in line.
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