Yang was born in Thailand and was a legal permanent US resident until she pleaded guilty to marijuana-related charges and served more than 2 years in prison.
Unfuckingbelievable. 2 years in prison for weed, what are we even doing here.
The history of the War on Some Drugs has been terrible. People like Leary who had a 10 year sentence for…possession of two roaches. And that was a relatively wealthy white guy…
That story has a bit more info about the marijuana related charges. Not a ton, but it does have:
"A longtime Milwaukee resident, Yang worked as a nail technician and a receptionist at nail salons before the COVID-19 pandemic. She was earning a living for her children, who range in age from 6 to 22. Her partner, Bub, is disabled: he has had two brain surgeries, is partially paralyzed and suffers from memory loss.
During the pandemic, the family moved into a house that prosecutors say was part of a marijuana trafficking operation.
Yang was among 26 people indicted in a sweeping federal case in 2020. It alleged Yang helped count and package cash that was mailed to marijuana suppliers in California. Prosecutors found bags of cash taped between pages of magazines, according to a complaint."
So it was a trafficking case. Weed was being shipped from Cali, where it’s legal, to Wisconsin, where it’s not, and they were mailing back cash to pay for the weed. To me it just sounds like she was trying to take care of her family and disabled partner during a difficult time.
Also, “Marijuana-related charges” is never going to mean “beating someone half dead because they smoked your weed.” That’s just battery. Even guessing that that is code for some violent crime makes you sound like a right wing nutjob making huge mental leaps to justify how horribly this woman was treated by the govt as a good thing.
Some stupid side-involvement without, as I guess, any power or major profits. Besides being a nail-person, SHE was their mail-person. Uninformed of probable presecution, she discovered it only when they all got caught. Stupid, dumb thing to do, but I can see why she could agree to that and why she kinda forgot to double-check the legality of this thing herself.
Ok? I never said she committed no crime. In fact, I specifically did say it was a trafficking case. And she served 2 1/2 years in prison for it, thereby paying her debt to society. So what’s your point?
I absolutely, categorically deny in the strongest terms being a “right wing nutjob”. There are basically no such people on Lemmy.
I am simply making a point that we don’t know what the “marijuana-related charge” is. Deporting a person to a country they’ve never been is never going to be a good thing.
I didn’t say you were a right wing nutjob, I said that making such ridiculous leaps in logic make you sound like one. I agree, this is Lemmy, so the chances of you actually being full right wing are pretty slim. Though seeing the term “Marijuana-related charges” and being like, well, it could be simple possession, or they could’ve beaten someone half to death for smoking their weed is the type of leap that nutjobs make.
I am simply making a point that we don’t know what the “marijuana-related charge” is.
If you really wanted to know more about the charges, you could’ve googled for 2 seconds and found the same article I did. Instead you just put out into the world that, well, maybe she beat someone half to death. Again, that’s battery.
I am simply making a point that we don’t know what the “marijuana-related charge” is.
Is basically the same line of thinking conspiracy theorists use when they say something ridiculous and then say they’re “just asking questions.” Especially if you’re using that line as a defense against pushback when you suggest that those marijuana related charges may have involved violence.
I’m not saying all this to attack you. I’m saying it so that next time you come across an article that you feel lacks some critical information, maybe you’ll look into it further rather than just suggest that the person said article is about is actually some sort of monster.
what? Capitulating just like that? Reading these comments I was expecting a much longer, more intense fight. You could at least ACT like a ‘rightwing nutjob’ instead of immediately just ‘be a likeable person’.
Now we know, though. She had helped her neighbours with their business during the COVID-19 pandemic without checking what the said business was actually about.
You’re right to question the article, which is thin on facts in a very specific area - which better presents the person it is about. Joe Average would probably see “had some weed” rather than “was involved in a cross-state trafficking operation” by the way it is written.
The question could have been better presented. If race was removed from the equation, and the US wasn’t deporting masses of people like it is now - then you probably wouldn’t have had such a strong reaction.
The mod that removed your comment for “misinformation” is following popular opinion rather than fact. “Marijuana-related charge” is vague and can imply anything alongside - including violence.
Regardless, I think they were wrong to deport. Reasonable people will commit crime when pushed to, which represents a failing of the state more than a failing of the individual.
During the pandemic, the family moved into a house that prosecutors say was part of a marijuana trafficking operation.
Yang was among 26 people indicted in a sweeping federal case in 2020. It alleged Yang helped count and package cash that was mailed to marijuana suppliers in California. Prosecutors found bags of cash taped between pages of magazines, according to a complaint.
She took a plea deal and served 2 1/2 years in prison. She said her attorney incorrectly told her the plea deal would not affect her immigration status as a green card holder. But her legal permanent residency was revoked.
At the end of her sentence, Yang was transferred to an ICE detention facility in Minnesota. There, at the advice of another attorney, she signed a document agreeing that a deportation order would be entered against her in exchange for being released from detention.
Despite agreeing to be deported, she and her attorney believed it wouldn’t happen, since only a small handful of people are deported to Laos each year
Sounds like she got involved with something she shouldn’t have as a green card holder, and then took some crap legal advice that didn’t account for an aggressive change in administration/policy.
They need to take care of their citizens dude. She has 5 kids that need their mom, and her husband. Don’t forget this was for weed, if she was bookkeeping for an illegal dispensary up here she would at worst lose her CPA.
Crap legal advice from lawyers is far too common and it sucks. I grew up in a gang area, so I know several people who’ve gotten public defenders. Every one I’ve heard of has been overworked to the point of just suggesting they try to plea deal out because mounting an actual defense would take too much time away from the other cases on their docket.
The general reaction I get to that is 'oh well, why should I care about a gang member’s civil rights" and it’s infuriating that we’re so happy to assume guilt before it’s proven in court.
Unfuckingbelievable. 2 years in prison for weed, what are we even doing here.
Some of the most punitive laws I’ve seen.
Would’ve already been jailed multiple times if I was American. Think I’ve been told to put it away at least 10 times here in NL
The history of the War on Some Drugs has been terrible. People like Leary who had a 10 year sentence for…possession of two roaches. And that was a relatively wealthy white guy…
Imagine if she’d have pleaded not guilty…
Believe it or not, straight to jail
deleted by creator
Removed by mod
https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/milwaukee/2025/03/14/south-milwaukee-woman-deported-to-laos-is-stranded-with-few-options/82369691007/
That story has a bit more info about the marijuana related charges. Not a ton, but it does have:
"A longtime Milwaukee resident, Yang worked as a nail technician and a receptionist at nail salons before the COVID-19 pandemic. She was earning a living for her children, who range in age from 6 to 22. Her partner, Bub, is disabled: he has had two brain surgeries, is partially paralyzed and suffers from memory loss.
During the pandemic, the family moved into a house that prosecutors say was part of a marijuana trafficking operation.
Yang was among 26 people indicted in a sweeping federal case in 2020. It alleged Yang helped count and package cash that was mailed to marijuana suppliers in California. Prosecutors found bags of cash taped between pages of magazines, according to a complaint."
So it was a trafficking case. Weed was being shipped from Cali, where it’s legal, to Wisconsin, where it’s not, and they were mailing back cash to pay for the weed. To me it just sounds like she was trying to take care of her family and disabled partner during a difficult time.
Also, “Marijuana-related charges” is never going to mean “beating someone half dead because they smoked your weed.” That’s just battery. Even guessing that that is code for some violent crime makes you sound like a right wing nutjob making huge mental leaps to justify how horribly this woman was treated by the govt as a good thing.
Some stupid side-involvement without, as I guess, any power or major profits. Besides being a nail-person, SHE was their mail-person. Uninformed of probable presecution, she discovered it only when they all got caught. Stupid, dumb thing to do, but I can see why she could agree to that and why she kinda forgot to double-check the legality of this thing herself.
I mean she was trafficking weed. Even in Canada where it’s legal this would still be illegal.
Ok? I never said she committed no crime. In fact, I specifically did say it was a trafficking case. And she served 2 1/2 years in prison for it, thereby paying her debt to society. So what’s your point?
I absolutely, categorically deny in the strongest terms being a “right wing nutjob”. There are basically no such people on Lemmy.
I am simply making a point that we don’t know what the “marijuana-related charge” is. Deporting a person to a country they’ve never been is never going to be a good thing.
I didn’t say you were a right wing nutjob, I said that making such ridiculous leaps in logic make you sound like one. I agree, this is Lemmy, so the chances of you actually being full right wing are pretty slim. Though seeing the term “Marijuana-related charges” and being like, well, it could be simple possession, or they could’ve beaten someone half to death for smoking their weed is the type of leap that nutjobs make.
If you really wanted to know more about the charges, you could’ve googled for 2 seconds and found the same article I did. Instead you just put out into the world that, well, maybe she beat someone half to death. Again, that’s battery.
Is basically the same line of thinking conspiracy theorists use when they say something ridiculous and then say they’re “just asking questions.” Especially if you’re using that line as a defense against pushback when you suggest that those marijuana related charges may have involved violence.
I’m not saying all this to attack you. I’m saying it so that next time you come across an article that you feel lacks some critical information, maybe you’ll look into it further rather than just suggest that the person said article is about is actually some sort of monster.
Okay, fair criticism
what? Capitulating just like that? Reading these comments I was expecting a much longer, more intense fight. You could at least ACT like a ‘rightwing nutjob’ instead of immediately just ‘be a likeable person’.
Now we know, though. She had helped her neighbours with their business during the COVID-19 pandemic without checking what the said business was actually about.
You’re right to question the article, which is thin on facts in a very specific area - which better presents the person it is about. Joe Average would probably see “had some weed” rather than “was involved in a cross-state trafficking operation” by the way it is written.
The question could have been better presented. If race was removed from the equation, and the US wasn’t deporting masses of people like it is now - then you probably wouldn’t have had such a strong reaction.
The mod that removed your comment for “misinformation” is following popular opinion rather than fact. “Marijuana-related charge” is vague and can imply anything alongside - including violence.
Regardless, I think they were wrong to deport. Reasonable people will commit crime when pushed to, which represents a failing of the state more than a failing of the individual.
Better article with more detail.
Sounds like she got involved with something she shouldn’t have as a green card holder, and then took some crap legal advice that didn’t account for an aggressive change in administration/policy.
Yeah with 5 kids and a disabled husband, this is a case where the inadequacy of welfare made this woman into a criminal.
ICE is breaking up poor families, with the pretense they did a victim less crime.
Regardless of the circumstances - if you’re accepted & given the right to stay, you should stay. Even as a criminal.
There shouldn’t be take-backsies on that.
She was not a citizen and unless your a citizen you don’t have any right to be in a country. PR status can be taken away.
They need to take care of their citizens dude. She has 5 kids that need their mom, and her husband. Don’t forget this was for weed, if she was bookkeeping for an illegal dispensary up here she would at worst lose her CPA.
What’s the P stand for?
Crap legal advice from lawyers is far too common and it sucks. I grew up in a gang area, so I know several people who’ve gotten public defenders. Every one I’ve heard of has been overworked to the point of just suggesting they try to plea deal out because mounting an actual defense would take too much time away from the other cases on their docket.
The general reaction I get to that is 'oh well, why should I care about a gang member’s civil rights" and it’s infuriating that we’re so happy to assume guilt before it’s proven in court.
You know the old joke in prison: what’s the difference between a rooster and a public defender?
A rooster clucks defiance, a public defender fucks de clients.
Fuck those people. If gang members don’t have civil rights then I only have civil privileges that can be taken away with the wrong accusations
Their journalism beats your baseless allusions of violence by every conceivable metric.
I am not accusing anyone of anything. I’m saying we don’t know what the “marijuana-related charge” is based just on this article.