Deported American Teen Intentionally Lied: Officials

US officials say Texas teen maintained false identity to be sent to Colombia

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Jan 6, 2012 6:03 AM CST

(Newser) – The Texas runaway who was mistakenly deported to Colombia will be handed over to American authorities today, clearing the way for her return to the US. Officials in both Colombia and the US are investigating how Jakadrien Turner, 15, who is now pregnant, ended up in Bogota, CNN reports. US Immigration and Customs says reports that the teen was deported after giving a name that happened to match that of an illegal alien are untrue.

According to ICE, Turner assumed the identity of a 21-year-old Colombian woman—Tika Lanay Cortez—after being arrested for theft in Houston and told cops she had no legal status in the US, the Washington Post reports. The agency says she went through an entire trial and served time under the fake name, and, despite not speaking Spanish, maintained the false identity during an interview at the Colombian consulate before being deported. Her family's lawyer accuses the agency of "dropping the ball," saying its story doesn't add up. "I don't buy that she had the wherewithal to be able to bamboozle the government," he says.

Jakadrien Turner, now 15, ran away from home more than a year ago. (AP Photo/Courtesy of WFAA-TV)

This undated file photo provided by WFAA-TV News shows Jakadrien Lorece Turner. (AP Photo/Courtesy of WFAA-TV)

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 16 comments

Kookey90

Jan 8, 2012 7:27 PM CST

I assume that during her deportation hearing this innocent teenager just kept her answers to a short “Si” or “No” and that must have been enough for the immigration folks to have deported her to Columbia.

shocking.magenta

Jan 6, 2012 10:12 AM CST

So she stuck with her lie through everything, including deportation? I don't get it. Why?

Mr_Joshua

Jan 6, 2012 7:31 AM CST

That a 15 year old could fool ICE speaks volumes for the organization. Regardless of her false name, there is no way this should have happened. Just more incompetent public servants now trying to cover their asses by blaming a 15 year old child. I say we take all the ICE officials involved and deport them to ...say, Liberia. And you can call me....................Mr Joshua

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Deported American Teen Intentionally Lied: Officials

US officials say Texas teen maintained false identity to be sent to Colombia

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Colombia • deportation • runaway • Immigration and Customs Enforcement • Jakadrien Turner

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Texas Runaway Mistakenly Deported

Jakadrien Turner, now 15, still trapped in Colombia

Teen Wrongly Deported to Colombia Is Back in US

Jakadrien Turner should be home in Dallas tonight

Man Pretends To Be Illegal Immigrant to Skirt Jail

He was deported to Mexico instead

Calderon Accuses US of Dumping Criminals in Mexico

Because, he theorizes, it's cheaper than prosecuting them

We're Getting Better at Deporting Convicts

More than half of those sent packing in last year were criminal offenders

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Deported American Teen Intentionally Lied: Officials

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Colombia • deportation • runaway • Immigration and Customs Enforcement • Jakadrien Turner

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

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More Newser Stories

Texas Runaway Mistakenly Deported

Jakadrien Turner, now 15, still trapped in Colombia

Teen Wrongly Deported to Colombia Is Back in US

Jakadrien Turner should be home in Dallas tonight

Man Pretends To Be Illegal Immigrant to Skirt Jail

He was deported to Mexico instead

Calderon Accuses US of Dumping Criminals in Mexico

Because, he theorizes, it's cheaper than prosecuting them

We're Getting Better at Deporting Convicts

More than half of those sent packing in last year were criminal offenders

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