More stories of the overly harsh immigration laws

A WBAL-TV report sheds some light on two overly harsh parts of today's immigration laws: the difficulty of convincing the immigration authorities of a fact where no paper proof exists and the inflexible rules for deporting people convicted of relatively minor or inconsequential crimes.

First, a Canadian woman married a United States citizen after entering the country by driving to Vermont. The immigration authorities waved her car through the inspection line and, as usual for Canadians, did not stamp her passport or give her any proof of entry.

After marrying, the immigration officials asked her for proof that she entered legally. She explained the situation and why she does not have any paper proof of her entry and the immigration authorities did not believe her, denying her permission to stay in the United States with her husband. Naima Said is the Bouse's attorney. What frustrates her about the Bouse's case is that the couple is being required to produce something border agents don't issue.Naima Said: "They want a passport with a stamp in it, but the regulations say you don't need a passport if you're a Canadian to enter the U.S.

In the second situation, a 25-year old green-card holder who has two U.S. citizen parents is beind held in detention and is facing deportation after leaving the United States briefly to attend a funeral. Back in 2001, he was convicted of possession of drug paraphernalia. He was put on probation and successfully completed his drug treatment program. But, because of a harsh and inflexible 1996 law, the green-card holder is inadmissible and will be separated from his parents unless his lawyers can find a way around deportation.