DEPORTATION THREATENED IN MARIJUANA ALLEGATION

SAN FRANCISCO -- A Mexican with legal residency in the United States is
facing deportation for possession of what he calls medicinal marijuana.

Ismael Valenzuela of Sacramento and his cancer-afflicted wife, Mae, said she
bought two pounds of marijuana in 1994 and planned to use it as a treatment
for pain.

Before a deportation hearing Monday, Valenzuela said he took the rap for his
ailing wife, an American citizen, when he pleaded guilty in 1995.

Now the 37-year-old truck driver says he has paid his debt to society and
that it would be unduly harsh on his five dependent children to force him to
return to Mexico.

Valenzuela's predicament stems from the federal Illegal Immigration Reform
and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996, which eliminated waivers for legal
immigrants facing deportation for felonies.

Compiled from staff and wire reports by Mercury News Staff Writer Kaye Ross.
Contact her at kross@sjmercury.com or (408) 920-5083.