Illegal immigrant has life savings confiscated by US government

[pacific breeze]

MIAMI, Florida (CNN) -- For 11 years, Pedro Zapeta, an illegal immigrant from Guatemala, lived his version of the American dream in Stuart, Florida: washing dishes and living frugally to bring money back to his home country.
Mistake costs dishwasher $59,000 - CNN.com

Pedro Zapeta, an illegal immigrant, managed to save $59,000 while working as a dishwasher for 11 years.

Two years ago, Zapeta was ready to return to Guatemala, so he carried a duffel bag filled with $59,000 -- all the cash he had scrimped and saved over the years -- to the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.

But when Zapeta tried to go through airport security, an officer spotted the money in the bag and called U.S. customs officials.

"They asked me how much money I had," Zapeta recalled, speaking to CNN in Spanish.

He told the customs officials $59,000. At that point, U.S. customs seized his money, setting off a two-year struggle for Zapeta to get it back. Video Zapeta describes how he lost his money »

Zapeta, who speaks no English, said he didn't know he was running afoul of U.S. law by failing to declare he was carrying more than $10,000 with him. Anyone entering or leaving the country with more than $10,000 has to fill out a one-page form declaring the money to U.S. customs.

Officials initially accused Zapeta of being a courier for the drug trade, but they dropped the allegation once he produced pay stubs from restaurants where he had worked. Zapeta earned $5.50 an hour at most of the places where he washed dishes. When he learned to do more, he got a 25-cent raise.

After customs officials seized the money, they turned Zapeta over to the Immigration and Naturalization Service. The INS released him but began deportation proceedings. For two years, Zapeta has had two attorneys working pro bono: one on his immigration case, the other trying to get his money back.

"They are treating me like a criminal when all I am is a working man," he said.

Zapeta's story became public last year on CNN and in The Palm Beach Post newspaper, prompting well-wishers to give him nearly $10,000 -- money that now sits in a trust.

Robert Gershman, one of Zapeta's attorneys, said federal prosecutors later offered his client a deal: He could take $10,000 of the original cash seized, plus $9,000 in donations as long as he didn't talk publicly and left the country immediately.

Zapeta said, "No." He wanted all his money. He'd earned it, he said.

Now, according to Gershman, the Internal Revenue Service wants access to the donated cash to cover taxes on the donations and on the money Zapeta made as a dishwasher. Zapeta admits he never paid taxes.

CNN contacted the U.S. Attorneys office in Miami, U.S. Customs and the IRS about Zapeta's case. They all declined to comment.

Marisol Zequeira, an immigration lawyer, said illegal immigrants such as Zapeta have few options when dealing with the U.S. government.

"When you are poor, uneducated and illegal, your avenues are cut," he said.

On Wednesday, Zapeta went to immigration court and got more bad news. The judge gave the dishwasher until the end of January to leave the country on his own. He's unlikely to see a penny of his money.

"I am desperate," Zapeta said. "I no longer feel good about this country."

Zapeta said his goal in coming to the United States was to make enough money to buy land in his mountain village and build a home for his mother and sisters. He sent no money back to Guatemala over the years, he said, and planned to bring it all home at once.

At Wednesday's hearing, Zapeta was given official status in the United States -- voluntary departure -- and a signed order from a judge. For the first time, he can work legally in the U.S.

By the end of January, Zapeta may be able to earn enough money to pay for a one-way ticket home so the U.S. government, which seized his $59,000, doesn't have to do so.

[JamieElizabeth]

Just to turn the tables. I had a friend wanting to live in Mexico to retire, and it is considered an unsafe place for that exact reason. The Mexican government is known for confiscating property. I have a book that lists countries economic freedoms by the Heritage Foundation, and Mexico lists very poorly with what the govn't has the power to do with individual property rights. They can take your house with no remorse.

My friend was nostalgic about moving there and having beautiful home on the ocean, and cheaper cost of living. When you look at the facts though, he was like hell no would I put most all of my money in an un-secured investment.

[kingcap72]

Who walks around with a duffel bag filled with money? Yeah, that doesn't look suspicious. Guess he never heard of a check?

[Grimmlok]

he probably didn't have a bank account and didn't pay taxes.

[Sweetie]

Yeah, I can't feel real bad for him, he was breaking the law being an illegal immgrant and all.

[KrisNine]

Sad, but stupid. Anyone trying to board a plane with a duffel bag full of money will be stopped.

[Mel1973]

Marisol Zequeira, an immigration lawyer, said illegal immigrants such as Zapeta have few options when dealing with the U.S. government.

"When you are poor, uneducated and illegal, your avenues are cut," he said...

the guy broke the law and then got caught and admitted to it... he's going to be punished.

[Sweetie]

Guess he paid taxes after all.

[crumpet]

Boo hoo. Poor widdle man who is just trying to have a better life (TM) gets pushed around by the big old mean USA. This has got to be the worst place on earth, I tell ya. Darfur is looking better every day.

[effie2]

Ok,he broke the law,punish him ,but he worked like a dog for that money,why should they take it?He didnt steal it after all..

[Sweetie]

^ well he didn't pay taxes like the rest of us either (more than likely) so it's not really all his.

[AliceInWonderland]

this story sickens me; make him pay the back taxes and give him back his money! its criminal to pay someone only $5.50 an hour or watever it was so WTF?! How fucking sad. and embarrassing for this country, this is America afterall!

[effie2]

There are illegal immigrants in here,we pay them half the money for the jobs locals hate to do,all the dirty stuff.
We catch them in and out of the country daily.
No official ever thought of taking their money,people would not like that.
Of cource most of our people know first hand what it feels like to fight for a better life in a place not your own..

[southernbelle]

Marisol Zequeira, an immigration lawyer, said illegal immigrants such as Zapeta have few options when dealing with the U.S. government.

"When you are poor, uneducated and illegal, your avenues are cut," he said.

Wow, Marisol. Good observation. ILLEGAL immigrants should not have ANY "options" when dealing with the government that they're intentionally screwing over. Yes, your avenues are cut when you're doing something ILLEGAL. I'm tired of people waltzing into this country with the attitude that the rules don't apply to them and then expecting the government that they've been cheating to protect them when they get caught. If you are here illegally, you don't have ANY rights.

Too many people seem to disregard the word "illegal."

He came here to take advantage of our system and of the tax paying citizens of this country, and the US government isn't going to let his happy ass get away with it. Good for them. He tried to fuck over the government, he got caught, and now the government is going to fuck him over. That's how it works when you choose not to play by the rules.

We have rules and regulations in this country and it's not fair to the people who follow them for the government to reward the people who don't.

Pedro is lucky that he's only being deported. If he were a citizen, he'd probably be on the way to jail for tax evasion.

[Mira]

Is there going to be any money left after the taxes, penalties and fines are paid, and also his attorney's fees?