Border Patrol Deputies stopped a car on I-75 this morning. The driver and occupant were described as men of Cuban descent. Police said there were drugs visible in the car.
From the St. Pete Times article, it's unclear why the car was stopped, what drugs were visible, and if the men "of Cuban descent" were illegal. The car had AZ plates.
In my last blog, I wrote about why the AZ Immigration law was a bad idea. It allows the police to stop people without probable cause.
Unfortunately, for these men, if they are illegal and they were stopped without probable cause, they will still have an ICE HOLD (Immigration hold forcing them to appear before an immigration judge in Miami who will decide if they get a bond or will be deported. Bonds in these cases are SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER than they are for a criminal charge)
Having lived in the Tampa Bay area for almost 20 years, I have met hundreds of Cubans. None of them were illegal. Most Cubans came to this country in the 60's and 70's. Most of the ones that I know are second or third generation AMERICAN. That is, their parents and sometimes grandparents are US CITIZENS.
What if these men were named Patrick O'Malley or Guido Rossi? Would it have been of interest to anyone that they were of Irish descent or Italian descent? So for all those who made comments like - "wetbacks" and "send them back" - unless you happen to be Native American - we all came from somewhere. Those of you with blonde hair and blue eyes who get pulled over, make sure you have some valid US documents.
