By Hailey Branson-Potts ~ LA Times ~ November 22, 2017
A federal court in Los Angeles has ordered the United States government to restore the protected status of an immigrant in the country illegally who was arrested near the Mexican border earlier this year while giving a ride to a teenager who was later deported.
Jesus Arreola Robles, a beneficiary of President Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, was arrested by Border Patrol agents on Feb. 12 in Campo, Calif., about a mile from the border, and accused of trying to smuggle someone into the United States.
The 23-year-old North Hollywood resident said he thought he was giving a paid ride to a friend’s 17-year-old cousin.
He spent several weeks in detention before he was granted bail by an immigration judge who “found him credible” when he said he “hadn’t been involved in criminal activity,” said Katrina Eiland, an attorney for the ACLU’s Immigrants’ Rights Project who is representing Arreola Robles. He was never charged with a crime.
The 23-year-old North Hollywood resident said he thought he was giving a paid ride to a friend’s 17-year-old cousin.
He spent several weeks in detention before he was granted bail by an immigration judge who “found him credible” when he said he “hadn’t been involved in criminal activity,” said Katrina Eiland, an attorney for the ACLU’s Immigrants’ Rights Project who is representing Arreola Robles. He was never charged with a crime.
Arreola Robles said he was babysitting his three younger sisters when he got a call from a friend saying his cousin needed a ride from Sun Valley to the San Diego area and back. He said he was supposed to get $600 in cash for driving the cousin.
Arreola Robles said he had never met the cousin, a 17-year-old named Luis, before. He said the teenager told him he needed to pick up his uncle and cousin at a house near San Diego. Arreola Robles said the pair drove for more than three hours and that when they passed a parked Border Patrol truck, he thought, “All right, this is sketchy.”
Shortly afterward, he said Luis told him they had arrived and to pull over to the side of the road. In the dark, Arreola Robles said he could make out the shadow of a person. The teenager got out of the car and walked toward the figure.
It was a Border Patrol agent. Arreola Robles and the teen were arrested.
Arreola Robles is the only member of his family who was undocumented. His siblings were all born in the U.S., and his parents became legal permanent residents about three years ago, Eiland said.
When he learned about the judge’s order on Monday, he was greatly relieved. His first child, a boy, was also born Monday.
“He’s very excited,” Eiland said. “It was a big day for him yesterday. It’s wonderful news, especially with the Thanksgiving holiday coming up. It’s a lot to be thankful for.”
Source: Hailey Branson-Potts ~ LA Times
