Acquitted of Charges, Illegal Immigrant Still Deported

Mexican illegal immigrant Arturo Hernandez Garcia was deported in January, even after being acquitted of his assault charges, because of the Secure Communities Program.

Secure Communities is a department within the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which focuses on the removal of criminal aliens whom pose a threat to public safety, and repeat immigration violators. Since the Secure Communities was found in 2008, more than 283,000 convicted criminals have been reported; including Arturo Hernandez Garcia.

The Obama Administration officials have made multiple statements saying that Secure Communities’ focus is on criminal aliens and repeat offenders who pose a threat to the public, but clearly that is not the case.

Originally coming to the United States as a tourist in 2000, Mr. Hernandez Garcia decided to stay and live the American Dream. Learning the trade of home renovations, Arturo opened a tile business – which has now grown to six employees.

In 2010, Mr. Hernandez Garcia had an altercation with another worker about how a job was being completed. The man called the police and Mr. Hernandez Garcia was arrested for assault, which he was later acquitted of.  However, the case drew the attention of ICE.

Mr. and Mrs. Hernandez Garcia had applied for green cards through their father (who was an American citizen), but their applications where buried in the millions of applications received by Immigration.

When the immigration judge heard of Mr. Hernandez Garcia’s case and his previous charges, they ruled against him and forced deportation.

Mr. Hernandez Garcia took every legal option since 2011 to appeal the deportation, and at last resort, sought sanctuary from federal agents in a church basement. Ultimately, Secure Communities and ICE won and Mr. Hernandez Garcia was deported.