English migrant Dale Heath and his family in Colorado will learn whether he can become a U.S. citizen during his final immigration hearing on September 3.
His wife, Kelli Heath, told Newsweek that the past three weeks have been chaotic and “full of tears.”
Why It Matters
Dale Heath came to the United States from England in 1991 at age 8. Over the years, he moved through different states before meeting Kelli and settling in Castle Rock, Colorado.
On August 4, he was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during a routine green-card appointment because of marijuana possession charges from when he was 17 and 18.
He has held a green card, making him a lawful permanent resident, since arriving in the U.S. After his card was flagged in 2022, renewing his citizenship required visits to Denver International Airport. His latest renewal attempt this month led to him being placed in an ICE detention center in Aurora, where he has spent more than three weeks. Kelli says the conditions there are poor, and he has had to live among violent offenders.
A U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) spokesperson told Newsweek: “A green card is a privilege, not a right, and under our nation’s laws, our government has the authority to revoke a green card if our laws are broken and abused. Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR) presenting at a U.S. port of entry with criminal convictions may be found inadmissible, placed in removal proceedings, and subject to mandatory detention.”
What To Know
Heath, a former executive chef, now owns and operates Castle Rock Carpet Care with his wife. Before moving to Colorado, he lived in Texas, Florida, and New Jersey.
Kelli, who described her husband as “an all-American man,” said his immigration problems began in 2022 when the couple returned from a 10-year wedding anniversary trip to Costa Rica that included a layover in Houston.
While Kelli passed through security quickly, Dale was taken aside and questioned for over four hours. Officials eventually let him board a flight home but revoked his green card, replacing it with a temporary one that still proved his citizenship but required more frequent renewals. Since then, the couple has avoided traveling abroad.
Dale’s detention relates to two arrests in 2001 in Texas for marijuana possession under 2 ounces—once when he was a minor. Court records show he pleaded no contest in both cases and served probation and brief confinement.
CBP said Heath was found inadmissible under the Immigration and Nationality Act because of a controlled substance violation. “During his interaction with CBP, Heath attempted to flee after being served a Notice to Appear (NTA) for immigration court,” the agency added. “CBP officers swiftly apprehended Heath, who was subsequently transferred to ICE custody. Heath’s case is now under the jurisdiction of the immigration court system, where he remains in custody pending further proceedings.”
Kelli said it is upsetting that her husband is being arrested decades after a low-level crime he already handled.
“When [Dale] called me from the detention center, he was crying. I cried too,” she said. “There were lots of tears because it was something we always joked about but never thought would really happen. The crime they are focusing on happened so long ago, and he already served probation and time. He’s renewed his green card multiple times, passed major security checks, and traveled in and out of the country since then. For this to happen now was shocking.”
She added, “A lot of 17- and 18-year-olds make mistakes and don’t think about the law at that age.”
Their children, 12-year-old Zoe and 9-year-old Oliver, have struggled with the situation. A supportive community has helped Kelli manage the stress, including arranging sleepovers for the kids while she handles business, bills, and legal matters.
“I take it day by day,” Kelli said. “I plan schedules for therapy, soccer, and dance. I never thought I’d have to act as a single mom. It’s exhausting mentally and physically. Even small tasks feel overwhelming.”
The immigration hearing on September 3 could change not just Dale’s life but his family’s as well.
Kelli worries about Dale, who was bullied as a child in Texas for being “an English boy with a Jersey accent.” She is unsure what she and the children will do if he is deported.
“It’s hard to think about. I don’t want to disrupt my kids’ lives. Life is already challenging for them. If Dale had to leave, they’d have to go somewhere they know nobody, and it would be very difficult for all of us,” she said.
