As Twitchy reported, Rep. Steve King of Iowa on Tuesday got himself in hot water over a photo of a cold beer, which he dedicated to the Border Patrol for deporting the “first non-valedictorian DREAMer,” Juan Manuel Montes, 23.
While advocates of amnesty were already furious to read, courtesy of the lawyers at National Immigration Law Center, that Montes has been approached by a Border Patrol officer in February without cause and deported after being made to sign papers he didn’t understand, the story quickly turned into a “he said, she said” affair when the Department of Homeland Security weighed in.
USA TODAY reports that another familiar voice will have a say in Montes’ fate; the Trump University judge whom Donald Trump had claimed was biased because of his “Mexican heritage” has been assigned to the case.
Trump to face 'Mexican heritage' judge in deported DREAMer case https://t.co/WBPVLa7F88
— David Ingram (@David_Ingram) April 19, 2017
Ouch. Trump was excoriated widely for criticizing U.S. District Judge Gonzalo Curiel, with House Speaker Paul Ryan calling his statement the “textbook definition of a racist comment.” (Even Sen. Harry Reid blasted Trump as a racist for making such a vile insinuation about “a Mexican judge” … never mind that Curiel was born in Indiana.)
Regardless of who presides over the case, it should be an interesting one to watch. After the media spread Montes’ story via his attorneys, DHS claimed that things happened quite differently. Montes claims he’s protected under the Deferred Actions for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program; the DHS says he violated that status by leaving the country and was arrested when trying to re-enter the U.S. by climbing over the border wall.
So …
A "dreamer" claims he was secretly deported. The government claims it never happened. https://t.co/4ejacJa1ZT
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) April 20, 2017
DHS confirmed to me Manuel Montes was apprehended after climbing a fence, admitted he'd entered illegally, and his status expired in 2015
— Shannon Vavra (@shanvav) April 18, 2017
DHS says Montes' DACA status expired in 2015. We have seen his ID that says it doesnt expire until 2018 https://t.co/679wlXggb5 @usatoday
— Alan Gomez (@alangomez) April 19, 2017
DHS releases statement on Juan Manuel Montes-Bojorquez,whose lawyers say had active protection under deferred action https://t.co/HpM5gED3qZ pic.twitter.com/fcC9zfYpve
— Priscilla Alvarez (@priscialva) April 19, 2017
Just got statement from DHS clarifying reasons for DREAMer deportation. Says Montes was caught hopping border fence into US 2/19/17.
— Byron York (@ByronYork) April 19, 2017
DHS: Montes did have renewed DACA status, expiration 1/25/18. But had left country without receiving 'advance parole.'
— Byron York (@ByronYork) April 19, 2017
Montes attempt to re-enter US by hopping border fence instead of coming through port of entry indicates knowledge of problem…
— Byron York (@ByronYork) April 19, 2017
Border Patrol says during interview (in Spanish) Montes never mentioned DACA status…
— Byron York (@ByronYork) April 19, 2017
But even if Montes had mentioned DACA status, DHS says, he violated status by leaving US and re-entering illegally.
— Byron York (@ByronYork) April 19, 2017
What's on the line in Juan Montes' case: 750K DREAMers and DHS' core credibility. https://t.co/2KUBbMcr6v
— Dara Lind (@DLind) April 19, 2017
Why did DHS deport ‘DREAMer’? https://t.co/BwyvYsxueH @RosaFlores reports on #TheLead
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) April 19, 2017
He voluntarily left the country to go into Mexico, then was caught coming back in. That's not being deported.
— Happy Thanksgiving & Epstein Didn't Kill Himself (@drawandstrike) April 19, 2017
As Ms. Flores notes in her report, if he voluntarily went into Mexico, he automatically lost DACA status even if if hadn't expired yet.
— Happy Thanksgiving & Epstein Didn't Kill Himself (@drawandstrike) April 19, 2017
His lawyer keeps claiming his DACA status has not expired, but so far has provided no proof of this.
— Happy Thanksgiving & Epstein Didn't Kill Himself (@drawandstrike) April 19, 2017
As Ms. Flores notes in her report, if he voluntarily went into Mexico, he automatically lost DACA status even if if hadn't expired yet.
— Happy Thanksgiving & Epstein Didn't Kill Himself (@drawandstrike) April 19, 2017
Eventually the truth is going to come out, whether DHS lied about deporting him or Montes lied about voluntarily leaving US for Mexico.
— Happy Thanksgiving & Epstein Didn't Kill Himself (@drawandstrike) April 19, 2017
Leave it to White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer to clear things up:
Spicer on the DREAMER who was deported: "That situation is evolving right now…" Suggests that more information will be coming.
— Abby D. Phillip (@abbydphillip) April 19, 2017
* * *
Related:
Another story about a 'dreamer' detained by ICE is poised to blow up in the media, but is light on details https://t.co/2HB1PiUJ4n
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) March 2, 2017
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