The United States is not only a country that values human rights but also a country that protects animals. Anyone who abuses animals may face charges and is likely to face serious criminal charges. Recently, a foreign student holding an F1 visa was criminally detained for “animal cruelty” after throwing a cat from an upper floor, causing its death. Subsequently, the student was arrested by ICE and is currently being held in an immigration prison with an uncertain future.
According to Manager Wang of the New York Qin Susan Law Firm, he received a sudden call from a student in a New York prison, referred to temporarily as “Student A”. Student A is an international student attending university in New York who had adopted a cat from a shelter. One day, in a fit of anger, he threw the cat off the upper floor, resulting in the cat’s death. This incident was reported to the police by a neighbor, leading to Student A’s arrest. “I only remember your phone number in the U.S., please help me!” the student pleaded.
Manager Wang stated, “Normally, a cat jumping from the 2nd or 3rd floor would not die, but since the neighbor heard the cat’s tragic cries, it was considered ‘animal cruelty’ and he is facing serious criminal charges. Since he reached out to me, I decided to help.”
Student A had no contacts for relatives or acquaintances, nor the landlord’s phone number, only the rental address. Manager Wang attempted to contact the landlord in person but no one answered. He then slid Student A’s case materials and his business card through the door crack. Later, he even posted a video online in search of Student A’s acquaintances.
Finally, the landlord of Student A contacted Manager Wang by phone. After a detailed discussion confirming the situation, the landlord contacted Student A’s parents in China and wired $2,500, which was used for Student A’s bail release.
The situation seemed to be resolved. However, Manager Wang received another call from Student A two days ago, this time from a jail, but not a criminal jail, rather an immigration detention center. It turned out that Student A had been taken into custody by ICE again.
“Due to his ‘animal cruelty’ actions, violent tendencies, moral issues, and facing serious criminal charges, ICE came knocking after his release from criminal custody. It’s difficult to secure his release now,” Manager Wang explained. “Student A still has legal procedures available, will have a chance in court, but if convicted, the court may issue a deportation order. Depending on whether he is sentenced to prison, he may serve time before being deported back to his home country.”
In addition, updates on previous cases from the “ICE Enforcement Series” covered by this publication are as follows:
– The family deported within 5 days in “ICE Enforcement Series (1): Chinese Family Deported Within 5 Days” has likely been repatriated, according to Manager Wang.
– Individuals featured in “ICE Enforcement Series (2): Granted Parole but Intercepted at Jail Gate” who were intercepted after being granted parole have seen some progress, with some already released and others still in the process.
– The individual highlighted in “ICE Enforcement Series (3): Arrested for Crime Shortly After Obtaining Work Permit” was not involved in cultivating marijuana as suspected but committed a more serious federal crime of money laundering—transporting illicit funds, and is currently held in an immigration detention center awaiting trial and deportation proceedings.
– The cases of two new and old immigrants in “ICE Enforcement Series (4): Lessons for New and Old Immigrants” are still ongoing.