Undocumented Mexican Illegal Immigrant In Georgia Now Center Of The Debate.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/05/14/georgia.student.immigration/index.html?hpt=T1

Atlanta, Georgia (CNN) -- Staring at the throngs of media representatives who came out to hear and see her Friday, Jessica Colotl took another step into the fight for her future.

The undocumented student from Mexico whose case has become a lightning rod in the immigration debate had been released on $2,500 bond just a couple hours earlier. The 21-year-old student at Kennesaw State University in Georgia surrendered Friday morning to authorities in response to a warrant for her arrest issued Wednesday night by the Cobb County Sheriff's Office.

Standing nervously before the crowd, Colotl fought back tears when people cheered for her. The media bombarded her with questions as she tried to give voice to her struggle.

Just a week earlier, she'd been released from a deportation facility in Alabama after being stopped in March for a minor traffic violation.

"If I were to be deported, I'd have to start all over again," she said. "I'm hoping for the best."

The sheriff's office said she gave a false address when stopped for that violation, a felony charge that her attorney denies.

A spotlight has been trained on Arizona since Gov. Jan Brewer signed into law a bill that requires law enforcement officials to seek proof of legal U.S. residency from anyone whom they have stopped on suspicion of having violated the law.

But advocates working with Colotl point out that a little-understood program already gives local authorities in many states the latitude to act as immigration officials -- a right that is often abused, they say.

"The future of Arizona already exists in Cobb County and Gwinnett County [also in Georgia]," said Jerry Gonzalez, executive director of the Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials.

Near him were other Colotl supporters, some holding signs reading "Education not deportation."

Under the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement 287(g) program, state and local law enforcement can partner with the federal agency to gain some immigration enforcement authority in their own jurisdictions. If they conclude that someone is in the country illegally, they can turn that person over to ICE. Last year, a change to the partnership program prioritized the detention and arrest of those who have allegedly committed crimes.

The Cobb County Sheriff's Office is one of 71 law enforcement agencies in 26 states that have entered into this partnership program, according to the ICE website.

Labeling the program a "civil rights disaster," Mary Bauer, legal director of the Southern Poverty Law Center, said it "leads to racial profiling, distracts police from looking for real criminals and destroys families."

The American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia called Friday for an end to the program.

"Jessica's case is yet another outrageous example of the unaccountable local enforcement of immigration laws in Cobb County gone awry," said Azadeh Shahshahani, ACLU of Georgia's national security/immigrants' rights project director.

Colotl's legal problems started in late March when her car was stopped on the Kennesaw State campus. Born in Mexico but living in the United States since she was 11, she could not produce a driver's license, so she handed over as identification an expired passport from Mexico.

She was arrested the next day and turned over to immigration officials. She spent more than a month in the Etowah Detention Center in Alabama.

Friends came out in force and marched on campus in her defense. Earlier this month, she was released, and her deportation was deferred for a year, which will allow her to finish her studies. She hasn't returned to classes yet, but looks forward to earning her degree.

"I'm just trying to live the American dream and finish my education," she said.

Calling Colotl "a symbol of what's wrong with the immigration system," immigration attorney Charles Kuck thanked ICE for allowing his client to stay in the country for a year to finish her studies. He then set out to educate people about the challenges facing Colotl, providing a reason why she did not have a license.

"Jessica can't start the process to become a U.S. citizen because she's not allowed to," he said. "If Jessica could obtain a license, she would have."

In a statement Wednesday night, Cobb County Sheriff Neil Warren said, "Ms. Colotl knew that she was in the United States without authority to be here and voluntarily chose to operate a vehicle without a driver's license, which is a violation of Georgia law. She has further complicated her situation with her blatant disregard for Georgia law by giving false information."

As for the use of the ICE program, he said, "I value any tool that helps me enforce the law and remove violators from our community."

But the band of lawyers and advocates who rallied around Colotl say Cobb County is abusing its power. In a joint statement Thursday night, they voiced outrage over Colotl's treatment and suggested that the felony charge is trumped-up.

"It is obvious from all the documents that I've seen that she has done nothing wrong and has given her proper address to Cobb County and immigration officials," said Chris Taylor, Colotl's criminal attorney. "There has been no crime committed."

The car's registration simply reflected her old address, Taylor said in an interview, and she provided her new address when she was taken into custody. Taylor said he has the documents to prove this and looks forward to clearing her name.

In front of the crowd that gathered Friday, he said of his client, "She has not failed us. We have failed her. The system has failed her."

The Cobb Immigrant Alliance likened the actions of officials to "schoolyard bullying." Gonzalez, of the Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials, called the sheriff "Wild-West Warren," saying he "has abused his authority in this case. His actions clearly demonstrate the problems that occur when local law officers are granted authority to enforce immigration laws."

"Sheriff Warren has embarked on a witch hunt, wasting money and county resources for political gain," said Adelina Nicholls of the Georgia Latino Alliance for Human Rights. "This is not about public safety."

[trillium13 84]

Was just gonna post this and you beat me to it.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

Was just gonna post this and you beat me to it.

of course

I'm a news junkie. What can I say

Regarding the article:

I think it's absurd the comments made by the ACLU and the attorneys involved.

"""Jessica's case is yet another outrageous example of the unaccountable local enforcement of immigration laws in Cobb County gone awry,"""

So enforcing the damn law is outrageous?

This thing is getting sad...

[trillium13 84]

I think the whole thing is absurd. I can't bring myself to feel sorry for people like this.

[Shad and Dani 3]

I think the whole thing is absurd. I can't bring myself to feel sorry for people like this.

I fought the law and the law won!

[trillium13 84]

I fought the law and the law won!

Several laws have been broken here, over quite a period of time, and she's still here. AND she was allowed to defer deportation to pursue an education here. Not sure the law is winning.

I'm really curious as to who is paying for her education.

Edited May 15, 2010 by trillium13

[Obama 2012 1,714]

Several laws have been broken here, over quite a period of time, and she's still here. AND she was allowed to defer deportation to pursue an education here. Not sure the law is winning.

I'm really curious as to who is paying for her education.

I was wondering that too.

If she's gotten one ounce of government financial aid......

She's here illegally

She's driving illegally

She's lying to authorities

She's possible sucking up taxpayer dollars

and they let her stay? Cmon. If anything they should make an example of her Give her Da' Boot!

Sure she's been here since she was 11, but there's American kids who have been here since day 1 who probably are getting less benefits than she is.

[William33 110]

Zero sympathy here for this illegal immigrant. The bleeding hearts should be deported also....With a big boot in the .........

[Shad and Dani 3]

Several laws have been broken here, over quite a period of time, and she's still here. AND she was allowed to defer deportation to pursue an education here. Not sure the law is winning.

I'm really curious as to who is paying for her education.

You caught me sleeping on that reply. I completely agree. At least Arizona is getting fed up. The rest of the country should follow!

[Danno 1,228]

<<<Under the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement 287(g) program, state and local law enforcement can partner with the federal agency to gain some immigration enforcement authority in their own jurisdictions. If they conclude that someone is in the country illegally, they can turn that person over to ICE. Last year, a change to the partnership program prioritized the detention and arrest of those who have allegedly committed crimes.

The Cobb County Sheriff's Office is one of 71 law enforcement agencies in 26 states that have entered into this partnership program, according to the ICE website.

Labeling the program a "civil rights disaster," Mary Bauer, legal director of the Southern Poverty Law Center, said it "leads to racial profiling, distracts police from looking for real criminals and destroys families."

>>>

As far as I know the 287 (g) program only deals with Illegals which enter the Jail system, they don't go rounding people up.

(not that I would mind). This is why it is done through the Sheriffs depts.

[ready4ONE 5,400]

Zero sympathy here for this illegal immigrant. The bleeding hearts should be deported also....With a big boot in the .........

Deport US citizens? Wow! I am very surprised William.

[Ban Hammer 12,836]

in state tuition rate too.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

in state tuition rate too.

That is changing. If she is allowed to continue to finish her degree she will not be paying in-state tuition - she will be paying foreign student tuition - and she is apparently going to have to pay back the difference for the semesters she has already attended. It is uncertain whether she will be allowed to continue or not - authorities say she gave a wrong address when she was originally picked up on the traffic charge; she says she didn't. That issue is still unresolved, which is surprising - it would be an easy matter to clear up, one would think, so there must be 'more' to that aspect of it than is being reported so far.

Edited May 15, 2010 by Kathryn41

[Fandango 1,439]

awww, poor Jessica...if she could have gotten a license, she would have...but she couldn't, so she drove anyway.

If she could have been legal she would have, but she can't, yet she'll do it anyway.

Send her and everyone else like her back home where they belong. They are interlopers and don't deserve to be here.

[luckytxn 2,263]

Hard to feel bad for a criminal. The only shame is her parents who brought her here were also criminals and taught her it was ok to be a criminal. She now has no sense of shame for being a criminal but feels entitled.