Many people in New Jersey and throughout the nation have been following a news story regarding a 35-year-old immigrant. The immigration situation taking place in another state involves an already deported immigrant, a detained immigrant and assertions that ICE is retaliating against the latter because he talked to the press about the former. The governor of the state where the man lives now claims he has thoroughly investigated the matter and is convinced no retaliation has taken place.

The back story involves the man in question's long-time girlfriend and the couple's children. The woman was arrested back in June and has since been deported to Mexico. The man agreed to speak to reporters and says ICE officials arrested him sometime later after identifying him as the one who spoke to the press about the arrest of his girlfriend. 

According to the governor of Washington, who claims he spoke to ICE officials to determine whether any retaliation was at play, authorities who arrested the woman became aware at the time that the her boyfriend was also living in the United States under an undocumented status. Officials told the governor that because the couple had children, they left the man alone so he could take care of them since their mother was being detained. The children are now in Mexico with their mother.

The man is currently being held in detention, though a bond hearing has been scheduled for the first week in January. His attorney says he believes retaliation may be a key factor because his client has no criminal record and has done anything to warrant arrest. New Jersey residents facing similar immigration problems can also seek assistance from experienced attorneys.

Source: The Seattle Times, “No retaliation against immigrant who spoke to media, ICE director tells Inslee“, Steve Miletich, Dec. 22, 2017