‘Lived peacefully for decades': Filipino immigrant with green card detained by ICE after vacation; old narcotics case flags arrest
A Filipino immigrant and a green card holder with prior criminal charges for distributing controlled substances was detained at Charlotte Douglas International Airport in North Carolina on July 28, after returning from a vacation in the Bahamas, reported GMA News Online.
Sonny Lasquite has reportedly lived in the US for 23 years and worked as a banquet server in Las Vegas. He is currently in the custody of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Newsweek reported.
Lasquite's family and friends have launched a GoFundMe campaign on Saturday seeking $30,000 for legal representation, filing fees, and 'essential expenses to fight for Sonny's right to remain in the US and reunite with his family.'
Lasquite's arrest was triggered by a federal system red flag connected to a 2012 narcotics case.
From about December 2010 to August 2012, Lasquite 'intentionally and knowingly' possessed with intent to distribute Schedule IV narcotics, including diazepam, alprazolam, zolpidem, and carisoprodol, according to court records from the Southern District of New York, reported Newsweek.
However, he quickly accepted responsibility for his actions and cooperated with federal authorities in identifying both charged and uncharged co-conspirators.
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In a 2014 sentencing memorandum, former US Attorney Preet Bharara wrote that Lasquite's assistance helped halt narcotics distribution operations and led to the prosecution of others.
"I feel pretty confident that you're not going to commit any crimes in the future, and I join the government in wishing you well and hopefully being able to put this behind you," Bharara said on September 9, 2014.
"You are, as the government points out, the only defendant who cooperated," he added.
"You did that at some risk to yourself. I think there needs to be recognition of that and proportionate sentencing between you and the other defendants."
The court ultimately sentenced Lasquite to time served with no additional prison time and ordered him to pay $200.
"Sonny Lasquite is more than a name, he is a beloved son, brother, uncle and friend whose kindness has touched countless lives,' says the GoFundMe, which has raised nearly $11,600 from 56 donations as of Monday morning.
"For decades, Sonny has lived peacefully in the United States, working hard, caring for his elderly mother, and always putting others before himself. He is the kind of person who never hesitates to help, greet you with a warm smile, or offer comfort when you need it most."
Immigration attorney Rosanna Berardi said that cases like Lasquite's are not uncommon and have been occurring for decades, reported Newsweek.
"Under current US immigration law, lawful permanent residents—even those who have lived in the country for most of their lives—remain vulnerable to removal proceedings if they are convicted of certain drug-related offenses. This is true regardless of how much time has passed since the conviction or how significantly they have contributed to their communities in the years afterward.'
Lasquite's detention highlights how lawful permanent residents can face immigration enforcement at ports of entry, noting the lasting consequences that past criminal actions can have for long-term residents.
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