ICE Arrests Mississippi Father at His Citizenship Hearing, Threatening Deportation

[yuna628 9,873]

https://www.mississippifreepress.org/ice-arrests-mississippi-father-at-his-citizenship-hearing-threatening-deportation/

 

Quote

Kasper and his wife, Savannah Hobart Eriksen, never submitted that form, which was due all the way back in 2015. She had suffered a stillbirth, losing their first child, and in the days of grief that followed, the deadline slipped right past them. But Kasper’s naturalization continued unimpeded. He corresponded with immigration officials numerous times over the next 10 years, and says agents never warned him that a critical document was missing. He paid taxes each year, reliably contributing a portion of his labor to the nation he already felt a part of.

Together with Savannah, they had four more children. He became a foreman at his job, and as 2025 arrived, he prepared for the final meeting with immigration services to formalize his naturalization and become an American citizen after spending nearly half of his life building a family here.

Savannah left that meeting alone. Kasper’s understanding is that his failure to submit I-751 led to a removal order—one immigration services issued without successfully notifying the Eriksens in 2019. That was 10 years after his first arrival in the U.S., four years after their miscarriage, and six years before he was chained to a seat on a bus in Memphis. 

 

 

The facts of this case as I understand them:

 

Came here legally.

Broke no laws.

Pays taxes.

Arrested at citizenship interview.

I've heard there was a deportation order but the circumstances are vague.

Couple raising money on gofundme because she's got like five kids and no husband now. Though she doesn't give details about what caused this mistake.

 

All stems from failure to file ROC. I've certainly seen some of those 'oopsies' here on VJ, they are usually given a chance to refile. I don't know how one could forget but... as I understand it they had endured some tragedy and forgot. Most of the articles about this case really don't understand what ROC is or the consequences about not filing. 

[Dashinka 25,872]

Seems like it might be able to be cleared up most likely with legal help, and a proper filing of the I751.  I say legal help as supposedly he was required to file that form in 2015.  He certainly cannot naturalize if an ROC is required, and most likely he was ordered deported by an IJ in abstentia.  Sounds very similar to this story, although this was about filing an i485.

 

The question is what should a USCIS IO do when they find a situation like this assuming an IJ has ruled?

 

 

Edited May 22 by Dashinka

[Dashinka 25,872]

I do love the biased reporting.  “Endless forms”?  Heck if he had filed the I751 properly, he could have naturalized as early as 2016/2017.

 

“Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence,” was just one of the endless documents he needed on his decade-plus journey to American citizenship.

[yuna628 9,873]

Yeah I've been watching people out there argue about this all morning. Some of them are still thinking the guy did nothing wrong and that by just him being here legally that means he automatically gets citizenship. Others offering no compassion whatsoever nor understanding as to what ROC is or how you get citizenship. I mean you see it all the time on these forums... people get themselves into crazy situations because they 'forgot'. Obviously this couple had a lot going on, and we aren't in their shoes... but damn, my husband is my most precious person to me. I'd move heaven and earth to make sure the deadlines were kept and he was protected.

[TBoneTX 47,517]

No matter what's going on, this sort of stuff is crucial beyond description.