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Antonio Montejano, U.S. Citizen and L.A. Dad, Detained for Days on 'Immigration Hold'

Categories: Immigration

hands handcuffs deportation.jpeg
Jailed for being brown?
It's one thing to deport undocumented immigrants for non-crimes like selling ice cream or driving with a headlight out, even though they've lived here since they were kids. Awful, and inhumane, but technically allowed, under the Obama Administration's harsh federal immigration policies. (Namely, a creepy Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) program called Secure Communities, through which local cops can call in ICE when they've got a suspected alien on their hands.)

It's another thing to arrest American citizens and detain them for days, on the mere suspicion that they may have been born below the border. Why is everyone complaining about Arizona...

... when the law in most other states, California most definitely included, allows for equally severe racial-profiling practices?

Take Los Angeles resident Antonio Montejano. He's the star of a New York Times piece today that alleges on a mainstream platform what immigrants rights activists have been screaming about for years: That "a growing number of United States citizens have been detained under Obama administration programs intended to detect illegal immigrants who are arrested by local police officers."

The story's entire fourth paragraph is dedicated to Montejano's nightmare.

"I told every officer I was in front of that I'm an American citizen, and they didn't believe me," said Antonio Montejano, who was arrested on a shoplifting charge last month and found himself held on an immigration order for two nights in a police station in Santa Monica, Calif., and two more nights in a teeming Los Angeles county jail cell, on suspicion that he was an illegal immigrant. Mr. Montejano was born in Los Angeles.

If his story is true -- which it likely is, considering the ACLU is backing him 100 percent -- the baffling treatment he received in the custody of the Santa Monica Police Department and the L.A. County Sheriff's Department, as a red-blooded American, can be considered "wrongful arrest." Because, as the Times points out, "immigration agents lack legal authority to detain citizens."

Montejano's own lengthy personal account was posted to the ACLU's Blog of Rights a couple weeks ago.

In it, he claims his original arrest by Santa Monica police was over a $10 bottle of perfume that he accidentally dropped into his Sears bag without paying, and a couple candy bars his kids ate in the store. (He says he purchased $600 worth of goods besides.)

So Montejano was charged with "petty theft" at the Santa Monica station. But that was only a segue into what police apparently wanted to nab him for:

I was detained in the Santa Monica police station for two nights until Monday, November 7. I pled to an infraction of petty theft. The judge said I did not have to pay the fine and ordered my release.

But instead of being released, the police transferred me to the L.A. County Sheriff. When I arrived at the Los Angeles County jail, an officer asked me where I was born and if I was citizen. I said I was born in Los Angeles and was an American citizen. They didn't believe me, and they detained me on an immigration hold.

For two nights, they detained me in the Inmate Reception Center. There was no bed, no mattress, no blanket, only a short bench. I did not sleep the entire time. They held me there until the morning on Wed., Nov. 9, after the ACLU sent my passport and birth certificate to ICE. As soon as I got out of that cell, I went straight to work to make up the lost pay.

All while low-level offenders like Lindsay Lohan are released in a matter of minutes, due to jail overcrowding (and apparent celebrity profiling).

Most heart-wrenchingly, upon his release, Montejano says his small son asked him, "Dad, can this happen to me too because I look like you?"

It's hard to know where to start in righting an issue this muddled and political -- arguably the largest remaining human- and civil-rights catastrophe of our time. But making damn sure that the dude you're putting on "immigration hold" is, in fact, an illegal immigrant, seems as good a first step as any.

We're contacting the Santa Monica Police Department and the L.A. County Sheriff's Department for their side of the story, if they're willing to share it.

[@simone_electra / swilson@laweekly.com / @LAWeeklyNews]

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9 comments
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 Bobby
Bobby

The question under the picture of the guy cuffed says "jailed for being brown?"

This is a leftist, anti-american question. Obviously he wasn't jailed for "being brown". He was jailed accidently, because Mexico lies south on the U.S. border and millions of people that resemble him are here without permission. It's unfortunate that there was a mix up, but what should the conclusion be, OPEN THE BORDERS TO AVOID INEVITABLE MISTAKES LIKE THIS? I doubt it.

Joel Wischkaemper
Joel Wischkaemper

The folks who support the illegal alien are working hard to create 'incidences' that condemn the processes.  There have been people who refused to claim citizenship until they were already deported.  Claiming, or even getting near claiming they were arrested and incarcerated because they are brown does so in the face of the massive number of brown people in Southern California, and .... and working in Law Enforcement. 

The bigotry of suggesting 'arrested because he was brown' belongs to the people who wrote this story.. not to the people who put him in jail.

To all I would suggest you not diddle around with Law Enforcement.  Illegal aliens are costing Los Angeles something like a billion a year and they cannot afford that.  Keep it straight when you are dealing with the law.

http://www.numbersusa.com/cont...

piddler
piddler

We have a problem. We let it get out of hand, and we need to stop it now.

I find it hard to believe, unless someone withheld information from ICE in an attempt to cast doubt on the program.

Grin and bear it, this is what happens when 12 million people cross the border illegally.

For the record, ICE is the only people that can put immigration holds on prisoners, it's a Federal hold, not a state hold. Something is not right here

 Bobby
Bobby

12 million? The truth is the government hasn't the slightest idea if it's twelve million or forty million. Yeah, it's out of control alright.

Ramon F Herrera
Ramon F Herrera

(1) The government of Mexico (and Guatemala, etc) have very accurate numbers. Mexico says: "if there were 20-30 million, our country would be empty"

(2) Think about it: The higher the number that is made up, the worse it is for the anti-immigrant cause.

Dave Francis
Dave Francis

 ‘ATTRITION THROUGHENFORCEMENT!’

 

To a great extent the mainstream Liberalmedia appear traumatized by the old traditional issue, that there are only TWO foremostalternatives of what to do with the officially estimated number of 11 million illegalaliens (a disinfected figure.) This is for those persons who are residingwithout permission in this sovereign nation; either deporting them or allowinga Path to citizenship.

 

Nowhere is this counterfeit proposalmore perceptible than in the media conduct of Mitt Romney's immigration proposal.It is substantially obvious to the American person, which in essence smells ofAmnesty. No presidential contender has debated more about the particulars ofdealing with the 11 million populations than Romney. He has told the numerous audiencesof what his opposition to amnesty is, for aliens and what he suggests to dowith them?

 

The problem for the Liberal mediaagainst Mitt Romney is that he maintains a third preference that is generallyknown as “ATTRITION THROUGH ENFORCEMENT”,which doesn’t include anything like mass deportation and legalization. It’s a easyprogram giving access to a government website, that illuminates whether you canbe hired or not and official directions what to do if you are flagged. Theapplication also costs absolutely nothing to arrange, with its outcome--oncegoing at full steam--is self-deportation that also cost nothing to taxpayers.However, the national press turns a blind eye, which has everything to do withremoving illegal aliens from the workplace. God forbid that--Romney should receiveany credit for his innovation that purely conveys his values, to difficult for mostestablished Republican Members of Congress (and Democrats). But the Texas Governorshould at least get a merit badge for having that position. Then we have MicheleBachmann, THE TRUE TEA PARTY CHAIRMAN. Bachmann needs to gain more momentum byestablishing her stand more on the illegal immigration occupation.

 

Bachmann of Minnesota needs topress her opposition against Obama’s Department of IN-justice, as there ugly treatmentof Arizona, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, Utah and soon North Carolina whoare concerned by foreign national parasites, leeching the welfare assistance inthose states; yet excluding not suing California, Nevada, Colorado, New Yorkand others, who have declared their cities sanctuaries for illegal aliens andstill receiving federal funds. In addition Bachmann should cite a second billthat has 80 sponsors is H.R.140, titled the Birthright Citizenship Act of 2011,which was introduced by Rep. Steve King of Iowa, which will establish that babiessmuggled into our nation, for the sole purpose of illegal parents to takeadvantage of the taxpayers. From the time of entry the parent can collectpublic entitlement, using the child as a pivot to remain here.  Benefits will accumulate over many years ofhealth care, education and further welfare supplements. If you cut off the billions of dollars in welfare and cash payments to ‘footholdchildren’, millions of illegal migrants and immigrants will leave, knowingthere will be no more—FREE HANDOUTS.

 

 

 Lady Bachmann has the highest grade of B-, determinedby the pro-sovereignty group NumbersUSA, then followed on her heels by Romneywho is graded at C-. Former HouseSpeaker Newt Gingrich has dropped to a D-, after adopting that illegal aliensolution, for those who have settled here for at least twenty five years andshould receive a pardon, although not eligible for citizenship. One mustwonder how Gingrich is going to construe who arrived here 25 years previous, oreven ten years ago. For starters--how did they get a job, if the federalgovernment was carrying out enforcement? Then again to get a job, they had tohand over a Social Security number to be hired. In other words they made up aSSN, and used fraudulent documents. So isn’t that a—FELONY?

 

This is why the House must pass the ‘Legal Workforce Act’ orbetter recognized as E-Verify. This is why Americans must come together andpress the federal, State Representatives to co-sponsor Bill H.R. 2885. This is the only avenue left tocontrol unauthorized workers stealing jobs from lawful American workers andlegal residents, as nothing has been seriously done since the Simpson-Mazzolibill inception in 1986. That is why the numbers of illegal aliens have beenclimbing ever since and too the majority of Americans, well past 20 million.

 

I was surprised that two Democrats have now co-sponsored the“Legal Workforce Act’, which is generating enormous support from the Americanpeople. It’s the taxpayer voters, who are contacting their Representativesin the House and Senate, determined not to be ushered to the side lines anddemanding the E-Verify law. Thousands are calling 202-224-3121 to be directedto their federal and state political members and having a nationwide impact.Why not make your vote known by doing your civic duty in demonstrating thatillegal aliens must go home. Can youeven imagine what the hundred billion dollars plus that is going to subsidize illegalimmigrants, can financial assist your states funds?

 

Don’tbe fooled by the Democrats and Liberal Progressives that illegal alien do paytheir fair share in taxes. Those who do are insignificant, and use the IRS ITINnumber and receive $4.6 Billion dollars back in tax credits.

 

TheDepartment of Justice director Liberal Eric Holder as implicated in the ‘Gun-walking’scheme, known as ‘Fast and Furious’ and the death of Brian Terry, a US BorderPatrol agent killed by the American government incompetence.   The manis now the driving force to use his power against states that have enacted lawsto stop non-citizens voting in our elections. Remember the fraudulent canvassinggroup ‘ACORN’ as they are back on the map, assuming another name and havingbeen prosecuted in 11 states. In conclusion the Liberal Progressives who are evidentlypushed ‘POLITICAL CORRECTNESS’ are at it again, trying to force us to retirethe term ‘Illegal alien.’ This is not going over well with the TEA PARTY, that ifyou stole into America which is a violation of the law, and then you are a—ILLEGALALIEN. Not an undocumented worker. THAT’S WHY ILLEGAL ENTRY SHOULD BE RECOGNIZEDAS A FELONY. YOU CAME HERE WITH THE DELIBERATE INTENTION OF STAYING, WITH AVISA OR NO VISA. I recommend all Americans who came here legally, need toassociate themselves with the TEA PARTY. America is on the rails to veryunstable future and the only hope for us is the TEA PARTY. Find out facts ofthe corruption and lies steering us in the wrong direction and readinvestigations at Judicial Watch, which will open your eyes to rot that is tangiblein Congress.

Ain't Buying It
Ain't Buying It

Guess his kids won't be eating for unpaid candy bars after this-- at least in Santa Monica. Accidentially my ass...

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