People who choose detention: What does good look like?

[JohnH]

If someone is a fugitive from justice in Ireland, would you feel detention may be appropriate whilst awaiting this decision? (As a reminder, they already made their decision, but he lodged an appeal, which is why it is taking longer.)

If he were an actual public safety threat, detention would make sense. But a low-level offense under appeal isn’t the same as being a dangerous fugitive. Let the courts decide — detention should be based on real risk, weighed against the cost of tearing apart a family and their livelihood.

He entered the U.S. in March 2009 on a tourist visa.

He was charged in April 2009, in Ireland, with drug possession with intent to distribute (called "drugs for sale or supply") in Ireland plus a charge for obstruction of justice.

Considering his past (and present) history of being a fugitive, do you still think detention is unreasonable? He has yet to appear for these charges he had in Ireland, and I think it's safe to assume he knew about them, although obviously an Irish court hasn't rendered judgment yet since he has been a fugitive from the country for 17 years. It is quite suspicious to enter the U.S. on a tourist visa and then be charged with drug offences a month later.

I don't think drug dealing is a "low-level offence", and there isn't an appeal: he hasn't appeared in court at all to answer the charges. Given that he has already proven himself a flight risk, do you still think it's unreasonable for him to be in detention?

And do you think a green card should be granted to someone who is a fugitive from justice?

[R7ehr]

How is he a flight risk if he is asking for detention?

[JohnH]

How is he a flight risk if he is asking for detention?

Well, he says he doesn’t want to be detained, but he doesn’t want to be returned to Ireland either. The U.S. is not giving him an option of being free to roam about the U.S. pending his green card denial appeal.

Generally speaking green cards are not eligible for people who have pending drug charges in another country.

[R7ehr]

How is he a flight risk if he is asking for detention?

Well, he says he doesn’t want to be detained, but he doesn’t want to be returned to Ireland either. The U.S. is not giving him an option of being free to roam about the U.S. pending his green card denial appeal.

Generally speaking green cards are not eligible for people who have pending drug charges in another country.

I think he should be sent back to Ireland as soon as legal. The legal qualification should go without saying, but nowadays a person needs to add that.

[JohnH]

How is he a flight risk if he is asking for detention?

Well, he says he doesn’t want to be detained, but he doesn’t want to be returned to Ireland either. The U.S. is not giving him an option of being free to roam about the U.S. pending his green card denial appeal.

Generally speaking green cards are not eligible for people who have pending drug charges in another country.

I think he should be sent back to Ireland as soon as legal. The legal qualification should go without saying, but nowadays a person needs to add that.

I’m fairly certain Ireland will accept one of its own citizens back.

But he doesn’t want to go and has asserted every possible legal avenue to delay going back.

[R7ehr]

Well, he says he doesn’t want to be detained, but he doesn’t want to be returned to Ireland either. The U.S. is not giving him an option of being free to roam about the U.S. pending his green card denial appeal.

Generally speaking green cards are not eligible for people who have pending drug charges in another country.

I think he should be sent back to Ireland as soon as legal. The legal qualification should go without saying, but nowadays a person needs to add that.

I’m fairly certain Ireland will accept one of its own citizens back.

But he doesn’t want to go and has asserted every possible legal avenue to delay going back.

ICE seems willing to send brown people to Africa with little to no ceremony. I wonder what’s the difference with this fella.

[JohnH]

ICE seems willing to send brown people to Africa with little to no ceremony. I wonder what’s the difference with this fella.

ICE will return nationals to their own country if their own country will accept them.

Some counties have decided to play games and not accept their own citizens via deportation so the U.S. has to send them elsewhere.

So the question would be why “brown countries” (to borrow your term) refuse to accept their own citizens back.

[R7ehr]

So why don’t we see third world people being permitted to loiter in ICE detention like this guy? Do they simply not know how to “game” aka, “maximize the bureaucracy” in the system, or what?

[JohnH]

So why don’t we see third world people being permitted to loiter in ICE detention like this guy? Do they simply not know how to “game” aka, “maximize the bureaucracy” in the system, or what?

Some of them do. Many of them would rather be deported than spend endless time in detention, though. It also takes a lawyer and $$$ to file multiple appeals successfully, generally speaking, that are able to drag out a case this long.

[Bootstrap]

Plain Anabaptists endeavour to live in such a way that they bring about Christ's kingdom in the domain and sphere of influence they control. For example, they try not to renege on debts, try not to take advantage/rip off workers, and so on. They do not, however, seek to acquire or influence the state to achieve those ends.

You wrote that plain Anabaptists seek to live out Christ’s kingdom within the sphere they directly influence, without seeking to control the state.

How does that principle shape the way you engage in threads like this one?