A single father of six U.S.-citizen children in Oklahoma was arrested by ICE moments after dropping his kids off at school. News summaries say he had lived in the United States for more than 30 years, held a valid work permit and believed he was following the law. His attorney said he was the sole caretaker of his children. He was taken into custody and deported shortly afterward.
Yes, he entered the country unlawfully decades ago. He spent most of his life working legally, raising a family and trying to navigate a system that even experts describe as confusing. Six American children were left without their father, not because of violence or crime, but because of an enforcement process that doesn’t recognize families. Reports don’t indicate whether he received a hearing before a judge to determine whether removal — or remaining to support his children — was in the best interest of the law.
We can enforce immigration law without breaking apart families who have lived and contributed here for decades.
Clinton Dunn
Dayton, Idaho