An attorney with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was charged on Wednesday, with authorities claiming that he forged an immigration document to make it appear that a Mexican immigrant was not eligible to stay in the United States.
Jonathan M Love was charged with depriving the Mexican immigrant of his rights – a misdemeanor charge – and appeared in Seattle’s US District Court. The charge comes in the wake of a civil suit filed last year against the federal government and Love by the immigrant, Ignacio Lanuza, which sought damages due to the legal costs incurred as a result of the incident. The civil suit against Love was ultimately dismissed and appealed, although the case is continuing against the US government.
An ICE officer stopped Lanuza back in 2008 and removal proceedings were commenced by ICE, according to the US Attorney’s Office. One year later, in 2009, Love received the case and the Immigration Court received a document from him that he claimed Lanuza signed back in 2000; however, prosecutors claim that the date was forged by Love to prevent Lanuza having the order for his removal from the United States cancelled by the authorities.
The charges faced by Love “are an important step in establishing accountability and sending a clear message that all people are entitled to a fair hearing,” says Northwest Immigration Rights Project lawyer Matt Adams, who was Lanuza’s representative during his civil case.
An attorney with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was charged on Wednesday, with authorities claiming that he forged an immigration document to make it appear that a Mexican immigrant was not eligible to stay in the United States.
Jonathan M Love was charged with depriving the Mexican immigrant of his rights – a misdemeanor charge – and appeared in Seattle’s US District Court. The charge comes in the wake of a civil suit filed last year against the federal government and Love by the immigrant, Ignacio Lanuza, which sought damages due to the legal costs incurred as a result of the incident. The civil suit against Love was ultimately dismissed and appealed, although the case is continuing against the US government.
An ICE officer stopped Lanuza back in 2008 and removal proceedings were commenced by ICE, according to the US Attorney’s Office. One year later, in 2009, Love received the case and the Immigration Court received a document from him that he claimed Lanuza signed back in 2000; however, prosecutors claim that the date was forged by Love to prevent Lanuza having the order for his removal from the United States cancelled by the authorities.
The charges faced by Love “are an important step in establishing accountability and sending a clear message that all people are entitled to a fair hearing,” says Northwest Immigration Rights Project lawyer Matt Adams, who was Lanuza’s representative during his civil case.