UK man faces deportation from the United States for 18 year old crime

A man from South Wales known as Zak Ashenhurst was arrested and imprisoned in America for a weapons violation that happened nearly two decades ago when he was only 17.  Ashenhurst has been living in the United States since 1979.  He has built a life in America with his wife and their two children.  Ashenhurst was in the middle of renewing his immigration papers when the arrest happened.

Ashenhurst is being deported through the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996.  This law allows the United States to deport any immigrant who has been convicted of a crime.  It does not matter when the crime was committed or how minor it was.

It is expected that Ashenhurst will be officially deported back to the UK any day now.  His wife who is in California is planning to pack up their life in the United States and head to the UK to be with Ashenhurst hopefully by the first of October.

Christine, Zak's wife, spoke about the incident: "Being uprooted is shocking but we are dealing with it. I don't really have a choice because I love my husband and I have to take care of my kids.  I'm more concerned about them. It's going to be a huge change for them. They are apprehensive for the big journey, but excited as well."

"We are really grateful to the family in Wales, who have got a place for him to stay," added Christine who talked about where Zak would stay until she and the kids arrive in the UK.

www.uscis.gov