A Bremerton father who has lived in the United States since childhood went in for what was supposed to be a routine check-in with immigration authorities in Seattle on March 11. Instead, his family says, he was cuffed and taken away.
Buonpone Morisath, who immigrated from Laos as a child and now lives in Bremerton with his wife and daughter, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement after that scheduled appointment, according to Kitsap Sun. His family and attorney say his green card was revoked years ago and he has been living under an order of supervision that required periodic ICE check-ins. His lawyer says he is now being held at the federal immigration facility in Tacoma while attorneys scramble to reopen his long dormant case.
The Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma, also known as the Northwest Detention Center, is a federal immigration facility that houses people in removal proceedings, according to ICE. The site has drawn scrutiny from lawmakers and advocates in recent years over inspections and living conditions, and how much Washington state can oversee the place has been a recurring political fight. Axios has reported on legislative efforts and oversight battles tied to the facility.
Case History And Legal Fight
Morisath pleaded guilty in 1994 to third degree assault and mishandling a firearm, his attorney says. A deportation order followed in 1995, but it was not carried out at the time. Instead, he remained in the community under supervision that included those regular ICE check-ins…