Arrest of undocumented student draws controversy

This article titled "Undocumented student's arrest called part of 'civil rights disaster'" by Jessica Ravitz discusses the predicament of an undocumented student at Kennesaw State University. Her name is Jessica Colotl. She has been in the United States illegally since she was 11 and is now 21 years old and is close to graduating from the university. In March, she was stopped in Alabama for a minor traffic violation and was unable to produce a license so she handed over an expired Mexican passport. Due to the " U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement 287(g) program" which allows law enforcement to work in tandem with immigration officials, she was arrested the next day and was given to immigration officials. She spent over a month in a detention senter in Alabama. Supporters of Jessica claim that this is a perfect example of how the system is failing. Immigration attorney Charles Kuck claims that "Jessica can't start the process to become a U.S. citizen because she's not allowed to." He also claims that "She has not failed us. We have failed her. The system has failed her." The sheriff who arrested her says that "Ms. Colotl knew that she was in the United States without authority to be here and voluntarily chose to operate a vehicle without a driver's license, which is a violation of Georgia law. She has further complicated her situation with her blatant disregard for Georgia law by giving false information." The latter claim has been denied by Colotl's criminal attorney who states that the car's registration reflected her old address and that Colotl had provided her new adress when taken into custody. Many believe that the sheriff have over stepped his boundaries but I believe that everything he did is fine. His job is to enforce the law and that's what he did. Now wether the system is broken is another question. I belive that it is. Jessica Clolotl was obviously not undertaking in any drug trafficking or any other major illegal activity. She was just going about her business and trying to get a higher education. Therefore, in her specific case or any case that reflects her, I believe that the immigrant in questoin should be given a chance to build up credentials and apply for at least a student visa.