Would deporting him have been “Islamophobic”?
“Iraqi immigrant accused of shooting Colorado Springs cop remained in U.S. despite series of crimes,” by Tom Roeder, Jakob Rodgers, and Lance Benzel, Colorado Springs Gazette, August 3, 2018:
A man accused of shooting a Colorado Springs police officer in the head in a shootout early Thursday while free on bond was known to immigration enforcement officials, yet evaded deportation despite a string of crimes, court records show.
Why Karrar Al Khammasi wasn’t deported was among the questions left unanswered Friday as his bond was revoked. Cem Duzel, the officer he is accused of shooting, remained hospitalized in critical condition.
The 31-year-old Iraqi immigrant appears to have lived in the Pikes Peak region for at least five years, and he had at least nine contacts with police in that time, according to court records.
On the day he pleaded guilty in 2014 to felony trespassing, Al Khammasi was on an immigration hold, court records show.
Whether his guilty plea should have triggered deportation depends on a variety of factors. But his conviction raised the question as to why he was allowed to remain in the United States, said David Simmons, a Denver immigration attorney of more than 30 years and a former adjunct professor at the University of Denver.
Some forms of trespass are considered crimes of moral turpitude — which can lead to deportation — and others are not, Simmons said.
The consequences of such a conviction also could vary, depending on how long he had been in the country, or the nature of the circumstances that brought him here. Some Iraqis living in the U.S. came as refugees who assisted the government or who fled persecution. But those refugees sometimes evade deportation because of chaos in their home country, or threats to their lives upon their return.
It is unknown whether those things factored into Al Khammasi’s immigration here, and the type of visa Al Khammasi used to enter the United States wasn’t clear.
El Paso County sheriff’s spokesman Jacqueline Kirby said Al Khammasi was an Iraqi citizen who was born in Iraq. She had previously said Al Khammasi was a refugee, but she later said she was mistaken, and that she wasn’t certain of his immigration status.
The last five years of Al Khammasi’s life have been marked by several run-ins with the law.
He picked up his first charge for drunken driving in 2013.
A month later, he was charged with criminal extortion in a case that police say was tied to a dispute over a business debt of $25,000, according to court papers. Investigators suspect Al Khammasi threatened a man and his family, and also set a car on fire.
The man told police that Al Khammasi’s “behavior began to change when he came into money and was drinking and possibly using drugs,” according to an arrest affidavit.
Al Khammasi pleaded guilty to a lesser felony, first-degree trespassing of a dwelling, and was sentenced to two years of probation, court records show.
“It sounds like he had a criminal defense lawyer who was aware of possible immigration consequences and negotiated that plea,” Simmons said. “It’s also possible that he’s a permanent resident and as permanent resident long enough that a single conviction for crime of moral turpitude wouldn’t trigger (deportation).”
An official clerk’s account of court proceedings on Feb. 19, 2014, says “(defendant) has immigration hold,” a court document obtained by The Gazette shows.
Kirby, the sheriff’s spokeswoman, said she could not find mention of Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials requesting that he be held….
somehistory says
Even those who should know the facts, don’t seem to know much at all.
He’s here…but no one knows how he got here.
He commits crimes that call for serious sentences or booting out of the country…and he’s on probation.
Someone friendly to moslims, and moslim terrorists, moslim criminals, and moslim murderers seems to be in charge of this guy’s life.
So what will happen to him now? More probation?
Mac-101 says
Very True. Are these authorities this blind, scared or was this scumbag used as an informant for some Agency?
.
If he wasn’t being sheltered as an informant, the Judges, authorities which sheltered him need impeached, fired and held personally responsible in Civil Court at least for the monetary damages this criminal committed!
Mark Berlinger says
Immigrant and five-year career criminal Al Khammasi goes on to shoot a police officer in the head. Authorities admit his immigration status is unknown. The telling of this tragedy never makes it into Mainstream Media without embellishments because the moral of the story is Islamophobia is a lie.
mortimer says
Any migrant who shoots a cop is not my idea of a welcome immigrant.
ENTRY and RESIDENCY in the United States is no one’s right. It is a privilege.
The privilege should be withdrawn in the case of serious crime.
gravenimage says
+1
gravenimage says
Colorado: Muslim migrant accused of shooting cop wasn’t deported despite series of crimes
………………..
More suicidal insanity.
Guy Forester says
Seems to me that we need to review this whole set of rules and laws regarding who can be sent packing and for what. I am now at the point that anything above two unpaid parking tickets should be a ticket back home. Once arrested, no bond. Release only to ICE. Once found guilty, no bond, place in shackles, escort back to country of origin.
Stop all and every kind of assistance to any country that refuses to take back their criminals. I can hear it now, “but you are breaking up families”. Good, next time one of these SJW snowflakes cries, inform said crybaby that should anyone attack him or her or whatever it claims to be that said criminal will be lodged at the victim’s home..
Older Canadian says
Agree. Zero tolerance when an import demonstrates or becomes a threat to the good and decent citizens is the only way a civilized country remains civilized.
Ren says
What are they waiting for to deport?
Johm says
This guy is worthy of deportation !
Infidel Dave says
Voting is the only way 2 change policy.
My Shari'a Moor says
Like Denver, Boulder & Ft. Collins, the REST of Colorado is fast becoming a SANCTUARY STATE harboring ALL manner of criminals, illegal aliens & pro-pedophilic Moslems!
There’re LOTS of places to hide & train for JIHAD (as has happened numerous times over the last 20 years) & it’s merely going to get more BLATANT as Colorado sinx into Islamic servility!
So, …. when?
John says
Get this guy and throw him out ! Now This is stupid Islamist behavior on the governments part !