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Immigration authorities recently announced they deported an illegal immigrant linked to the brutal murder of a 16-year-old boy who was beaten to death on the steps of a Philadelphia church in 1994.
Bou Khathavong was deported to Laos Sept. 2 after years of legal proceedings, according to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) division in Philadelphia.
Khathavong, an illegal immigrant who is a dual citizen of Laos and Thailand, was convicted in 1996 of criminal conspiracy in the death of high school student Eddie Polec, who was beaten to death by a mob of suburban teenagers in the Fox Chase neighborhood of Philadelphia.
He was sentenced to a minimum of five years and a maximum of 10 years in prison.
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Polec was reportedly assaulted with baseball bats and other weapons while lying defenseless on the steps of Saint Cecilia’s Church, according to officials. Despite desperate calls for help, the attack continued until Polec died.
Khathavong was arrested Nov. 11, 1994, and was initially charged with two counts of murder, possession of an instrument of crime and criminal conspiracy, according to ICE.
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Nearly two years later, he was convicted of criminal conspiracy and sentenced.
The former Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) lodged an immigration detainer against Khathavong at the Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility in Philadelphia a month after his conviction.
On Sept. 1, 1998, INS served him with a notice to appear before an immigration judge, charging him as an aggravated felon under Section 237 of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
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The act contains a list of serious criminal offenses that can lead to an illegal immigrant’s deportation.
An immigration judge in York ordered Khathavong removed from the U.S. to Laos in December 2004, though he was later released on an order of supervision in 2005.
He was finally sent back to Laos in September.
“We sincerely hope that the removal of Bou Khathavong can finally help the family of Eddie Polec and the city of Philadelphia heal from one of the most horrifying crimes in Philadelphia’s history,” ICE ERO Philadelphia acting Field Office Director David O’Neill wrote in a statement.
“ICE is working daily to safeguard the American public and bring justice for the families of those who are harmed by illegal aliens.”
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ICE said Khathavong’s removal marks the culmination of efforts by ERO Philadelphia and ICE’s Removal Management Division to enforce the immigration laws of the U.S. and ensure public safety.
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