A British citizen who has spent much of his life in the United States was surprised with an unexpected turn in a routine migratory process. What should be another appointment to renew his permanent residence ended up becoming an detention by immigration agents for an order for possession of marijuana for more than 20 years ago.
The case has generated shock, because it is a man who has been living in the country for more than three decades, with family ties and a life established in US territory.
An appointment that changed your life
Dale Heath, originally from England and arrived in the United States with just 8 years, recently went to an official event with the aim of renewing his Green Carddocument that guarantees permanent legal residence in the United States. What I did not imagine was that in that same office it would be arrested by agents of the Customs Immigration and Control Service (ICE).
As detailed NewsweekHeath has resided in the US for more than 30 years, time in which he formed a family and took root. His situation seemed to be in order until last May, it was informed that renewal was no longer possible for “changes to the new administration.”
The warning was finally consumed on August 4, when Heath left his home in Castle Rock, Colorado with the intention of clarifying his immigration situation before said announcement. When he presented what he thought would be a solution procedure, he was arrested for reasons linked to an old position for possession of marijuana of less than 2 ounces, originated approximately 25 years ago.
What do immigration authorities about Heath’s arrest say?
Dale Heath’s arrest was not only a product of his routine appointment, according to the CBP. Judicial background shows that in 2001 he faced two positions for possession of small amounts of marijuana in Texas, one of them when he was not yet reached.
In both processes he accepted legal conditions and complied with minor sanctions such as probation and temporary confinement. These offenses, although lower and occurred more than two decades ago, were considered by immigration authorities as causes of inadmissibility under the immigration and nationality law.
The case was further complicated in 2022, when he was arrested for an inspection at Hobby airport in Houston after returning from an international trip. On that occasion, Customs and Border Protection officials (CBP) included it in deportation procedures and ordered him to renew his documentation annually while remained under probation.
During his last appearance, Heath would have tried to evade the notification of citation to the immigration court, which resulted in that he was immediately put into custody and delivered to ICE, where he continues waiting for a judicial resolution.
The situation has had a strong impact on your family. His wife, Kelli, told Newsweek that visits are made through a glass and only through a phone, without the possibility of physical contact. He pointed out that Dale’s health deteriorated in the first days of confinement, losing weight rapidly and living with inmates accused of serious crimes.
To face legal expenses and hold the home, Kelli promoted a collection campaign that has received dozens of solidarity contributions, exceeding ten thousand dollars and reflecting the support of a community that seeks Heath to return home soon with his children.
What comes to Dale Heath
After his arrest, Heath was in custody of the immigration authorities and now faces the possibility of being deported. The future of its permanence in the United States depends on a Audience scheduled for September 3where a federal judge will analyze his case and determine whether he can continue living in the country.