• SwizzleStick@lemmy.zip
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    1 day ago

    Better article with more detail.

    During the pandemic, the family moved into a house that prosecutors say was part of a marijuana trafficking operation.

    Yang was among 26 people indicted in a sweeping federal case in 2020. It alleged Yang helped count and package cash that was mailed to marijuana suppliers in California. Prosecutors found bags of cash taped between pages of magazines, according to a complaint.

    She took a plea deal and served 2 1/2 years in prison. She said her attorney incorrectly told her the plea deal would not affect her immigration status as a green card holder. But her legal permanent residency was revoked.

    At the end of her sentence, Yang was transferred to an ICE detention facility in Minnesota. There, at the advice of another attorney, she signed a document agreeing that a deportation order would be entered against her in exchange for being released from detention.

    Despite agreeing to be deported, she and her attorney believed it wouldn’t happen, since only a small handful of people are deported to Laos each year

    Sounds like she got involved with something she shouldn’t have as a green card holder, and then took some crap legal advice that didn’t account for an aggressive change in administration/policy.

    • faythofdragons@slrpnk.net
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      1 day ago

      Crap legal advice from lawyers is far too common and it sucks. I grew up in a gang area, so I know several people who’ve gotten public defenders. Every one I’ve heard of has been overworked to the point of just suggesting they try to plea deal out because mounting an actual defense would take too much time away from the other cases on their docket.

      The general reaction I get to that is 'oh well, why should I care about a gang member’s civil rights" and it’s infuriating that we’re so happy to assume guilt before it’s proven in court.

      • nomy@lemmy.zip
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        23 hours ago

        You know the old joke in prison: what’s the difference between a rooster and a public defender?

        A rooster clucks defiance, a public defender fucks de clients.

      • captainlezbian@lemmy.world
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        22 hours ago

        Fuck those people. If gang members don’t have civil rights then I only have civil privileges that can be taken away with the wrong accusations

    • bane_killgrind@slrpnk.net
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      1 day ago

      Yeah with 5 kids and a disabled husband, this is a case where the inadequacy of welfare made this woman into a criminal.

      ICE is breaking up poor families, with the pretense they did a victim less crime.

      • SwizzleStick@lemmy.zip
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        19 hours ago

        Regardless of the circumstances - if you’re accepted & given the right to stay, you should stay. Even as a criminal.

        There shouldn’t be take-backsies on that.

        • Auli@lemmy.ca
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          15 hours ago

          She was not a citizen and unless your a citizen you don’t have any right to be in a country. PR status can be taken away.

          • bane_killgrind@slrpnk.net
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            15 hours ago

            They need to take care of their citizens dude. She has 5 kids that need their mom, and her husband. Don’t forget this was for weed, if she was bookkeeping for an illegal dispensary up here she would at worst lose her CPA.