Bummer: Woman Who Was Face Of Illegal Immigration Has DACA Status Stripped

She was a cause celebre sparking a national conversation or something

Woman who was face of illegal immigration in metro Atlanta has DACA status revoked

Immigration and Customs enforcement officials said a former Kennesaw State student who was formerly protected as a dreamer had her protection revoked because she deceived law enforcement.

Jessica Colotl, a 29-year-old Mexican national in the country illegally, was formerly protected under an Obama-era program called the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals executive order. ICE said she lost that protection when she confessed to a felony charge.

“Colotl, an unlawfully present Mexican national, admitted guilt to a felony charge in August 2011 of making a false statement to law enforcement in Cobb County,” Bryan Cox with ICE said.

Cox said that although Colotl was allowed to enter a diversionary program by police in Cobb County, federal law considers her admission of guilt a felony conviction.

Colotl’s attorney, Charles Kuck, disputes that. He said she complied with the terms of pretrial diversion, meaning she does not have a felony conviction.

Her DACA status was terminated on May 3. The next day, a government lawyer asked an immigration judge to issue a deportation order.

The Washington Post and Athens Banner Herald, among others, are running the AP story on this, which delves deep into the timeline, and, of course, has to bring President Trump’s “hardline stance” into the mix, despite the majority of this happening during Obama’s presidency. The Atlanta Journal Constitution also jumps to Trump rather quickly, while also noting

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement issued a statement about her case Wednesday, saying the government has canceled DACA status for about 1,500 people since the start of the program in 2012 because of “criminality or gang affiliation concerns.”

“Deferred action does not, in any way, prevent (the Department of Homeland Security) from moving forward with execution of a removal order,” ICE spokesman Bryan Cox said.

They’re all going on about her causing a national conversation (anyone remember her?) and her being a cause celebre (who?), but, here’s the facts: she was driving without a license, a violation of the law. She lied to law enforcement, a felony. She’s unlawfully present in the United States.

The weird part here is about the whole “separating families” thing. Her mother, who brought her illegally, moved back to Mexico.

“It’s terrifying,” Colotl said of her experience. “It’s unfortunately what I’m going through, but there are many others who are in this situation I’m currently in.”

“We have to keep fighting for what we believe in,” she said later. “At the end of the day, we are talking about Americans — Americans at heart. It’s just a really sad situation because one day you… are spared from deportation, but you do not know what is going to happen the next day.”

Criminals should live in terror. And, here’s an idea: rather than demanding citizenship, rather than getting out in the streets agitating, why not be humble and hold out her hand and say “please?” Why not attempt to go through the proper process to become a U.S. citizen?

Oh, and don’t lie to law enforcement, drive without a license, and create traffic issues.

Crossed at Right Wing News.