Man bites dog: judge sentences man to prison for being an illegal alien

I have never heard of this happening before: a repeat illegal alien being sentenced to a significant prison term, simply for re-entering the United States after being deported. What? Does the law actually mean something? What is the world coming to? The story is from the Billings (Montana) Gazette:

Drug charges were dismissed, but an illegal alien arrested in Livingston in October 2003 will spend four years and three months in prison for re-entering the United States without permission.

U.S. District Judge Richard Cebull on Tuesday sentenced Sergio Martinez-Servin, 41, of Mexico, at the top of the guideline range for conviction on illegal re-entry.

“I don’t plan to come back here again,” Martinez-Servin told the judge.

“I don’t believe it for a minute,” Cebull said.

Martinez-Servin, who has been deported at least four times in the past 20 years, isn’t among those who come to this country for freedom, success or work, Cebull said. Martinez-Servin is “one of those persons who adds to the pervasive drug problem in this country,” Cebull said. “I hope Mr. Martinez learns a lesson, but I doubt it.”

Posted by Lawrence Auster at December 08, 2004 01:04 AM | Send