Yeah, But He Broke the Law!

On Friday, Ramon Saul Sanchez became the latest illegal immigrant to learn firsthand that the look-the-other-way enforcement policy of yesterday's INS is rapidly becoming an artifact of the naive pre-9/11 past. It remains to be seen whether the usual suspects will clamor for Sanchez's deportation, especially in light of his repeated brushes with the law, but there are some mitigating circumstances. For instance, his infraction (not obtaining permanent residency within one year of immigrating) took place 35 years ago. When he was 13. Also, he came from Communist Cuba, and is one of South Florida's most prominent anti-Castro activists, heading up the confrontational Democracy Movement. And he was arrested while trying to finally obtain legal permanent residency, which is now required to renew a Florida driver's license. Sanchez's fate will be determined by an immigration judge in September.