Used as bait to grab immig
WHEN MYNOR Espinoza entered an immigration office, he expected it would be to clarify some paperwork for his 9-year-old son.
Federal immigration agents said the June 5 meeting was about Anthony, who arrived from Guatemala last year, Espinoza’s lawyer said.
But it was really about clamping down on Espinoza. The 31-year-old father of four from West Haven, Conn., crossed the border illegally eight years ago. At that June meeting in Hartford, the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement detained him.
“It’s not the first time that an undocumented immigrant’s child has been used as bait,” said Carlos Moreno, interim state director of Connecticut Working Families.
ICE defended the detention, noting Espinoza was caught at the border in 2009. “ICE routinely runs the names of individuals encountered to check for outstanding warrants or other criminal activity,” the agency said. “Individuals who have outstanding warrants for removal or deportation orders are subject to arrest at the time of encounter.”
Espinoza has no criminal record, his advocates say.
Before his detention, Espinoza worked as a stonemason. His wife has since taken on a series of jobs to help keep the family afloat.
A bond hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, and Espinoza’s family is bracing for a possible deportation order.
Immigration advocates have also criticized ICE for nabbing border crossers who show up in court for minor offenses. “It’s another example of (President) Trump’s devastating agenda against undocumented immigrants,” Moreno added.
While deportations rose dramatically under former President Barack Obama, his administration focused on terrorism threats, gang members and felons, and pushed for reforms that would legalize law-abiding immigrants.
In contrast, a call for mass deportations of undocumented immigrants became a central theme of President Trump’s campaign.
His subsequent administration announced immigrants charged with any crimes would be priorities for deportation — but critics say many with no criminal history have been targeted, too.