There are many reasons immigration officials can and will pursue deportation of individuals. One common reason is if an individual in Maryland or another state has been found guilty of certain crimes, particularly violent felonies. For one teen sentenced for a violent crime, the possibility of deportation may be real, but the timeline may be unclear.
The 17-year-old young man was sentenced for stabbing someone in the chest. He was sentenced to serve five years in a juvenile detention center and then be released at the age of 21. Then, he is scheduled to serve probation for a period of 15 years.
Authorities do not believe the young man sentenced for the crime is a citizen of the United States, and he should be deported to his home country. However, those authorities did not reveal the location of his home country. They have stated the deportation could occur either during the probation period or after that period of 15 years.
Because the young man is serving time in a juvenile prison until he is 21, he has time to formulate a means of dealing with or fighting the potential impending deportation. There are a variety of legal defenses applicable to fight deportation in Maryland and elsewhere even when a criminal record is the reason for a deportation to occur. The nature of the crime committed, the age of the person involved and any other unique circumstances can all be factors that are taken into consideration, and may possibly be helpful, if an individual wants to avoid deportation after being found guilty of a crime.
Source: startribune.com, “Teen who fatally stabbed St. Paul man to be freed at 21; deportation possible“, Paul Walsh, Aug. 30, 2015