Immigration Laws Provide the Government Too Much Discretion

Ken McLaughlin has written an interesting story (SJ Merc, 7/3/09) about the broad discretion of immigration judges:

http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_12744965?source=rss&nclick_check=1

If the link doesn't work, try googling these words:

When he was 10, Hank Nijmeh moved with his family to San Jose when the Beatles were still together and much of the Santa Clara Valley was carpeted with mustard fields. He was one of five children in a friendly Palestinian Catholic family that established one of the valley's most beloved eateries — the Falafel's Drive-In on Stevens Creek Boulevard...

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has kept Nijmeh in custody since April 2006, when he tested positive for marijuana while on probation....U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has kept Nijmeh in custody since April 2006, when he tested positive for marijuana while on probation...

Immigration laws may be unevenly applied and enforced because of the wide latitude given to immigration judges. Remember this immigration fiasco, when immigration authorities wanted to deport the widows of American citizens because BCIS delayed processing their citizenship applications? Talk about pouring salt into an open wound...