US citizens deported to Mexico on a regular basis
In a drive to crack down on illegal immigrants, the United States has locked up or thrown out dozens, probably many more, of its own citizens over the past eight years. A months long AP investigation has documented 55 such cases, on the basis of interviews, lawsuits and documents obtained under the Freedom of Information Act. These citizens are detained for anything from a day to five years. Immigration lawyers say there are actually hundreds of such cases.
Ouch. 55 cases over the past 8 years of US citizens who where jailed or deported as illegal aliens.
The impression I get from reading their examples is that once you get in the system, the immigration officials and law officers just assume you are an illegal and look for a way to get rid of you. Of course, they are probably drowning in case work and face 100 liars for every actual American. But it is the sort of situation where even one mistake is not acceptable.
Jay