This past July, U.S. District Judge Paul Crotty ordered the release of Ecuadorian immigrant Pablo Villavicencio, who had been detained by ICE on an outstanding deportation order discovered while he was delivering pizza to a military base in Brooklyn.
Six hours after hearing legal arguments, U.S. District Judge Paul Crotty ruled that Villavicencio can remain in the United States while he exhausts his right to try to gain legal status.
“Although he stayed in the United States unlawfully and is currently subject to a final order of removal, he has otherwise been a model citizen,” Crotty wrote.
“He has no criminal history,” the judge added. “He has paid his taxes. And he has worked diligently to provide for his family.”
Such a “model citizen” that today, he was arrested again:
Man detained by ICE after delivering pizza at #NYC Army base arrested again https://t.co/imr0U86xS4
— NBC New York (@NBCNewYork) October 22, 2018
He sounds like a real peach, this guy:
Pablo Villavicencio, whose arrest became a national cause and a flashpoint for the immigration debate, was taken into custody early Monday on a fourth-degree misdemeanor and was still in a Nassau County detention center as of mid-morning, sources said.
According to court documents, Villavicencio allegedly pushed his wife against a wall and slapped her body after an argument, and then purportedly took her phone so she could not call for help. (The criminal mischief charge relates to the alleged taking of the phone, interfering with her ability to call police.)
Lovely.
He shoved and slapped his wife around. Took her cell so she couldn't call for help. https://t.co/1B6tGkRZik
— LaurieAnn ✨ (@mooshakins) October 22, 2018
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"Villavicencio allegedly pushed his wife against a wall and slapped her body after an argument, and then purportedly took her phone so she could not call for help …." https://t.co/k6jjMqgAQg
— LB (@beyondreasdoubt) October 22, 2018
"New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, said at the time [he was detained by ICE] that the federal government had "cruelly" kept Villavicencio from his wife, Sandra Chica, and two daughters 'for no legitimate reason.'"
— LB (@beyondreasdoubt) October 22, 2018
Guess Cuomo spoke too soon.
His lawyers did not immediately have a statement on his arrest. ICE officials said Villavicencio will not be taken into custody while he has pending immigration applications.
OK then.
Welp.
I'm a squish on immigration, but not for illegal immigrants who commit crimes beyond overstaying visas or whatever. Especially violent crimes. Kick 'em out. https://t.co/8g0iNyK5mn
— Beto O'Wurtzel (@NathanWurtzel) October 22, 2018
Doesn’t seem like an unreasonable request. Nor does this one:
Amen.
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