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Bush Moves to Deport Legal Resident Acquitted in Terror Case

By Jeralyn, Section Crime Policy
Posted on Sun Mar 02, 2008 at 09:38:00 AM EST
Tags: Liberty City Seven (all tags)
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The Bush Justice Department at work again.

Lyglenson Lemorin, age 33, came to the U.S. from Haiti as a child. He is a legal resident of the U.S. He hasn't been to Haiti in 20 years.

He was acquitted by a federal jury of any wrongdoing in the Justice Department's hyped prosecution of the Miami Liberty 7 -- another case that went after a bunch of sad sacks who may have been bumbling terror wannabes but had no ability to carry out a terror threat even if that was their desire.

The Justice Department is now trying to deport Lemorin back to Haiti -- for the same conduct for which he was acquitted. In other words, a legal resident who grew up here and was acquitted by a jury after the Government had its chance to take its best shot and failed is now facing removal from the United States. He never even saw a day of freedom after the acquittal.

That's the Republican way of doing things and why it must end in November. [More...]

Yet more than two months after his acquittal on charges of supporting terrorism, Lemorin remains incarcerated, and U.S. immigration officials are moving to deport him to Haiti, which he left more than 20 years ago. Officials are asking an administrative judge to order his deportation based on the same charges that the jury dismissed.

The government's effort to punish Lemorin despite the acquittal is drawing fire from his attorneys and some legal observers as an attempt to seek retribution in a high-profile case that prosecutors lost after a fair trial.

This isn't someone who entered or remained in the country illegally. This is a lawful permanent resident.

"It's not just double jeopardy -- it's sour grapes," said Lemorin's criminal defense attorney, Joel DeFabio. "It's a mind set at the Department of Justice: 'We don't lose -- and if we can get you another way, we will.' "

..."He's no more a Haitian than the Good Humor man," said Charles Kuck, a lawyer representing Lemorin in immigration court.
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    Bush Moves to Deport Legal Resident Acquitted in Terror Case | 3 comments (3 topical)

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    In South Florida (none / 0) (#1)
    by glennmcgahee on Sun Mar 02, 2008 at 07:41:11 AM EST
    Where I live here in South Florida, its amazing to me that we have a system so screwed up that Cubans only have to set foot on dry land to be able to stay in the US. Its called the wet-foot, dry-foot policy. That means that every time a fast boat is interdicted with smugglers bringing a boatload of cuban immigrants to our coastline there is a race between our coastguard and the immigrants to reach a shoreline, bridge or even sandbar before the coastguard can apprehend them. If they touch ground first, they get to stay, period. There is no other qualification required. Haitians are another matter. I recently read where the people in Haiti are actually eating DIRT for food. Thats how much poverty has gripped the island. There are not any natural resources left in Haiti. They are the poorest of the world. Yet, we have no pity for them and send them back in mass without question. They are poor, so they are defenseless. It is disgusting. They are proud and hardworking people looking for a decent life. Do we care?

    Dave Chappelle put it best (none / 0) (#2)
    by blogtopus on Sun Mar 02, 2008 at 11:30:25 AM EST
    All I'll say about Elian is thank God he's Cuban. 'Cause if he was Haitian you'd've never heard about his *. If Elian Gonzales was Elian Mumumbo from Haiti, they would've pushed that little rubber tube right back in the water. "Sorry little fella, all full. Good luck!"
    - Dave Chappelle "Killin Them Softly"

    George W. Bush... (none / 0) (#3)
    by Edger on Mon Mar 03, 2008 at 03:32:16 PM EST
    a legal resident who grew up here and was acquitted by [the Democratic Leadership] after the [2006 midterm Congressional winners] had [their] chance to take [their] best shot and [caved] [should now be] facing removal from [office and the streets]. He [should never again see] a day of freedom
    Bush Moves to Deport Legal Resident Acquitted in Terror Case | 3 comments (3 topical)

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