A Mexican immigrant brought to the U.S. illegally as a child and given a work permit by former President Obama has been detained by federal authorities.
Daniel Ramirez Medina, identified as a so-called ‘dreamer’ – illegal immigrants who were brought to the United States as children – was brought to the U.S. when he was seven. He has no criminal record according to court documents, but authorities claim he has self-admitted gang ties. As such, he was arrested for being a threat to public safety.
An ICE spokeswoman said, “Ramirez – a self-admitted gang member – was encountered at a residence in Des Moines, Washington, during an operation targeting a prior-deported felon.”
Medina was taken into custody last week, but now claims he was pressured to falsely admit a gang affiliation.
“We are hoping this detention was a mistake,” a lawyer representing the ‘dreamer’ added.
Via Reuters:
U.S. immigration authorities have detained a 23-year-old Mexican man who was brought to the United States illegally as a child and given a work permit during the Obama administration, according to a lawsuit challenging the detention in Seattle federal court.
The man’s lawyers say this could be the first time under U.S. President Donald Trump that a person covered by the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, has been taken into immigration custody. The program was established in 2012 by Democratic President Barack Obama to allow those brought to the country while young to attend school and work.
…
Ramirez was a “self-admitted gang member,” said Rose Richeson, a spokeswoman for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), in a statement.
“ICE officers took Mr Ramirez into custody based on his admitted gang affiliation and risk to public safety.”
Buzzfeed is reporting Judge James Donohue has intervened and “has ordered officials to defend the arrest of an undocumented immigrant who has protection from deportation.”
BREAKING: Federal Officials Ordered To Defend Arrest Of DREAMer During Raid: https://t.co/g4kpLFYIV1 w/ @aflores pic.twitter.com/rT9O23JqHS
— Chris Geidner (@chrisgeidner) February 15, 2017
This total lawlessness is exactly why millions of Americans voted for Trump.
Still, CBS News reported that President Trump has previously “expressed sympathy for the more than 740,000 people in the DACA program.”
That is an aspect of this story that will no doubt be ignored, while Medina’s case is held up as the norm. He will be portrayed as an example of the administration’s desire to arrest innocent people and tear apart their families.
If this is indeed a mistake, ICE simply must avoid them in the future. For each erroneous arrest, Democrats will assail President Trump’s efforts to secure our borders and make America safe again.
Comment: Do you think Medina should have been arrested? Share your thoughts below.
