McAuliffe pardons mother detained by immigration officials

[Judi Lynn]

Alan Suderman, Associated Press

Updated 4:21 pm, Wednesday, May 24, 2017


RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe has pardoned a minor driving offense committed years ago by an immigrant mother of two, saying he hopes it will help prevent her deportation.

Immigration advocates have protested the arrest of 30-year-old Liliana Cruz Mendez of Falls Church, who was taken into custody this month after going with her lawyer to a check-in appointment at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement office. They say her case is emblematic of tougher immigration policies under President Donald Trump.

McAuliffe acknowledged his pardon may not affect Cruz Mendez's case, but said he wants to send a "clear message that tearing this family apart will not make our Commonwealth or our country safer."

Cruz Mendez's children, 10 and 4, are U.S. citizens, and her husband has a work permit and is pursuing a green card, according to the advocacy group CASA.

More:
http://www.chron.com/news/crime/article/McAuliffe-pardons-mother-detained-by-immigration-11170914.php

[OnDoutside]

1. The Democratic Party should come out with a clear policy

that all those deported under the Trump regime (and haven't committed a serious crime), will be readmitted under a Democratic administration. I know it doesn't fix things now, but it might give people some hope.