Undocumented Mexican immigrant held in Sacramento jail faces deportation over marijuana charge

Sacramento Bee ^ | Published: Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2012 | Stephen Magagnini

[moonshinner_09]

Less than a third of a gram of "concentrated marijuana" might get Juan Carlos Rivera deported. The 24-year-old undocumented Mexican immigrant has been detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the Sacramento County jail for more than four months while he awaits a decision in his deportation case.

[moonshinner_09]

"He doesn't seem like a priority prisoner. He's working, paying into Social Security and paying withholding taxes.""I'm praying to God I'm through with marijuana," Rivera said. "It took my life away. I would like to go to college for Bible studies and cooking, and maybe I can help other people quit, too."

Sobbing ,"You don't know how hard it is for me ... blah blah blah ..."You think you're having a hard time ...", I would like to go to college for Bible studies blah blah blah blah ..

[Defiant]

Maybe he should agree to vote for Obama, after Jerry Brown gives him his drivers license.

[UCANSEE2]

Shouldn’t he be facing deportation over the fact that he is an illegal immigrant ?

[Pearls Before Swine]

Shouldn’t he be facing deportation over the fact that he is an illegal immigrant ?

I agree. Using a thimbleful of pot as an excuse is f'd up, especially in California, where it's effectively legal unless the government is mad at you.

[JustSayNoToNannies]

Rivera's lawyers argue that their client should qualify for prosecutorial discretion, an Obama administration policy that closes deportation cases against undocumented immigrants

If someone sneaks into a vacant apartment and lives there, is he an "undocumented tenant"?

who haven't committed serious crimes

Violating border laws is a serious crime.