DEPORTING OF HEROIC VETERAN IS BLOCKED

Man's criminal record is amended

A local immigration judge has halted the deportation of a decorated Vietnam
War veteran with a criminal record.

The Immigration and Naturalization Service had been seeking to deport Jodey
Gravett of Lakeside to his native Japan after he was convicted last year of
growing marijuana in his home.

Gravett, 50, became deportable despite being a legal U.S. resident because
he was classified as an aggravated felon. The construction worker had also
been convicted in 1991 of possessing methamphetamines for sale.

But Gravett's attorney successfully sought to have his criminal record
changed so that he would no longer be considered an aggravated felon.

On April 2 Immigration Judge Joseph Ragusa ordered that Gravett not be
deported, basing his ruling on his recently amended criminal record in
Superior Court.

While Gravett is still on probation, his conviction for cultivating
marijuana was changed to possession of the illegal drug, according to court
documents. His other drug conviction was erased.

The INS has until May 3 to appeal. INS attorney Renee Renner, who had
argued for his deportation, could not be reached for comment yesterday.

Gravett's attorney John Quinn said his client had few options. Two years
ago he could have requested a waiver from deportation available to legal
U.S. residents but that section of the immigration law has been tightened,
making it difficult for those with aggravated felonies to avoid being
deported. While acknowledging that his client had made mistakes in the
past, Quinn stressed that he did not deserve to be returned to a country
where he had not lived since he was 12.

He said the changes made to his criminal record were done in the "interest
of justice."

Gravett was born in Japan and placed in an orphanage at an early age. He
was adopted by an American couple, brought to the United States and raised
in El Cajon.

He dropped out of school in the 11th grade and joined the U.S. Army. He won
medals of valor during two tours of duty in Vietnam.

Gravett could not be reached for comment yesterday. Quinn said his client
may move to Missouri, where he has relatives.

Copyright 1998 Union-Tribune Publishing Co.