2008 Woodie Awards
PSUC student detained by immigration control
Student to await status at hearing
Megan Munroe
Issue date: 10/19/07 Section: News
Originally published: 10/18/07 at 6:31 PM EST
Last update: 10/19/07 at 1:50 AM EST
- Page 1 of 1
A Mason Hall resident was taken into custody by federal agents at a Rochester Greyhound station Oct. 10 and held in the Ontario County Jail until she posted bail this past Tuesday, according to jail officials and Mike Przybyl, a Border Patrol spokesperson.
The student had planned a trip to Ohio over the weekend, and when she didn't return, dorm staff reported her absence to University Police, said assistant chief Jerry Lottie. UP then set about locating the student, both to determine her whereabouts and to make sure she was safe.
Lottie said he spent hours on the phone trying to track down the student, and eventually learned she had been detained on an immigrations violation. Lottie was also in regular contact with the student's father to receive updates on her status.
Przybyl said "it was determined that she was a citizen of Ghana," and that she was allegedly "out of status and illegally in the United States." He explained that the student's immigration status appeared to have expired.
Elaine Komis, a public affairs officer for the Executive Office of Immigration Review, said the student had a bond hearing Thursday morning, and is scheduled for an initial hearing in December at the Buffalo Immigration Court.
This hearing will probably not decide the case, she said, and the student will most likely move on to an individual hearing against the Department of Homeland Security.
An immigration judge will decide if the student can remain in the U.S., but this decision can be appealed. Komis said the student was charged with being in violation of the Immigration and Nationality Act, Section 237a01B.
The student's roommate said she would be returning to Plattsburgh on Sunday, but could not provide further details.
The student had planned a trip to Ohio over the weekend, and when she didn't return, dorm staff reported her absence to University Police, said assistant chief Jerry Lottie. UP then set about locating the student, both to determine her whereabouts and to make sure she was safe.
Lottie said he spent hours on the phone trying to track down the student, and eventually learned she had been detained on an immigrations violation. Lottie was also in regular contact with the student's father to receive updates on her status.
Przybyl said "it was determined that she was a citizen of Ghana," and that she was allegedly "out of status and illegally in the United States." He explained that the student's immigration status appeared to have expired.
Elaine Komis, a public affairs officer for the Executive Office of Immigration Review, said the student had a bond hearing Thursday morning, and is scheduled for an initial hearing in December at the Buffalo Immigration Court.
This hearing will probably not decide the case, she said, and the student will most likely move on to an individual hearing against the Department of Homeland Security.
An immigration judge will decide if the student can remain in the U.S., but this decision can be appealed. Komis said the student was charged with being in violation of the Immigration and Nationality Act, Section 237a01B.
The student's roommate said she would be returning to Plattsburgh on Sunday, but could not provide further details.
Be the first to comment on this story