Shocker: When you flaunt your law breaking, you get punished

This really shouldn’t come as a shock to anyone, but I guess we’ll pretend for a moment: when you flaunt the fact, for years, that you’ve been breaking the law, at some point, it does catch up to you. That’s a position a local activist finds herself after she chose to flaunt her status as an illegal immigrant.

Rantz: Ludicrous outrage over ICE deportation of local activist

Maru Mora-Villalpando has been targeted for deportation by ICE. Up until now, we weren’t entirely sure why. But due to a public disclosure request from an activist organization, Mijente, we are getting some more details.

According to the Stranger, citing government documents, Mora-Villalpando caught the attention of ICE from a recent interview where she admitted she’s been living in this country illegally. Indeed, she’s deliberately overstayed her visa by two decades. They write:

The documents show that federal officials on Dec. 18 identified Mora-Villalpando as a “deportable” immigrant after reading the Whatcom Watch article.

“Upon review of the article and available information regarding her situation, it should also be noted that she has extensive involvement with anti-ICE protests and Latino advocacy programs,” the document further states.

“These documents show that ICE actions are a direct attack on our organizing and freedom of speech,” Mora-Villalpando told Mijente.

In an interview with the Stranger, she further states: “I did not expect they would be so clear, so bluntly clear that this is not only a political witch hunt, but also a racist witch hunt. It couldn’t be more clear that they are targeting my community. They don’t want me defending my community.”

I’m not entirely sure it’s as clear as Mora-Villalpando and her advocates will have you believe. The document may have made that statement to note the sensitivity of going after her, given that she’s an outspoken activist in the community.

Nevertheless, she is being targeted for deportation. And this shouldn’t shock you. Nor should it be labeled “racist.” I’m not certain why ICE would want you defending people breaking the law.

Mora-Villalpando is in this country illegally. She’s not a DREAMER, brought here through no fault of her own. She made the choice to overstay the visa. If you flaunt your illegal act, at some point, you’ll get the attention of an agency tasked with deporting illegal immigrants. This is common sense.

Is it fair? Well, yes. Breaking laws bring punishment and that she’s gone unnoticed by ICE all this time is perplexing. Is it right? No, not in my view. Unless she’s broken a significant law, my sense is that this is unnecessarily bad PR for an agency that’s already unfairly maligned. Mora-Villalpando is hardly a threat to the nation. And as I said here, I find it distasteful but well within their rights. But let’s be clear: she should have expected this day would come.

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