60-year old George Boley Sr. was arrested on January 15th in Buffalo, New York, after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials figured out that the ex-Liberian had been a notorious figure in that country's civil war.
According to USCIS allegations, Boley had committed numerous war crimes in Liberia's recent civil war. Yet somehow, he entered the United States without documentation. He is currently being held at a federal detention facility on an array of charges -- he stands accused of gross civil and human rights violations. His case is scheduled for March 16th.
No doubt when undocumented foreign nationals living in the United States read about cases like Boley Sr.'s, their hearts sink a little bit. Prejudice against undocumented immigrants already abounds in the media. To be classified as in any way associated with a human-rights-violating warlord is unfair and damaging.
The good news is that undocumented immigrants can also point to happier success stories. For instance, we just blogged about an Oregon woman named Marion Pringle, who got her U.S. citizenship on her 104th birthday. We need to see more of these heartwarming stories in the press -- as opposed to dispiriting accounts like the case of George Boley Sr. -- to spread the message that undocumented foreign nationals are a diverse group.
Navigating the U.S. Immigration System is not easy -- even if you speak the language fluently and you qualify for a visa. The paperwork alone can daunt the most persistent applicants. The application process can make you feel like a rat in a maze. And the long wait times and clogged courts can make you question whether coming to this country is even a worthwhile endeavor, if this is the kind of government service that you'll come to enjoy.
Immigrants can benefit from straight talk and strategic advice. If you or a loved one or friend needs a legal consultation regarding an immigration matter, connect with the Southern California immigration attorneys here at HOWARD | NASSIRI. Phone us at 1-800-872-5925 (toll free), or click through our website, to get a better understanding of the services we offer and the kinds of immigration law cases we've been able to take on and win. Don't be daunted by the obstacles and odds -- success is possible!
