For one Orlando man, losing track of his immigration court dates caused him to be deported back to Haiti, a nation split apart by rampant gang violence and murder.
The 40-year-old Haitian emigre had established himself in South Florida. He had a fiancée and a life here since he fled the violence rocking his home country. Now, he is back on the streets of Haiti without even an identification card or papers.
At least 50 people were deported back to Haiti
The deportation flight left from Louisiana — then stopped in Miami before landing and disembarking approximately 50 passengers in Haiti. The Orlando man claims to have nowhere to go and fears for his future back in his homeland.
How his troubles began
The Haitian immigrant first came under the radar of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) upon his arrest for criminal mischief. After that misdemeanor was resolved, he was taken into custody by agents from the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). He claims his notifications to appear in immigration court got lost in the mail.
Missing court can get you deported
You should know that getting into any sort of trouble, no matter how minor the charge, can badly affect your bid to remain in the United States. However, not every criminal conviction will get you on the next plane to your country of origin.
One thing that will be problematic is missing your court date. Remain on top of your case and learn all you can about the immigration laws affecting your case to have a shot at the best outcome for you.