In a rare ruling, a United States immigration judge has
decided against deporting a Jamaican-born lesbian, on the grounds that she might
be tortured in her native country because of her sexual orientation.
Judge Irma Lopez-Defillo had initially ordered that the unidentified 29 year old woman, be deported because of drug convictions.
Judge Lopez-Defillo however, deferred the order Thursday basing her decision on what she described as a "climate of intolerance" in Jamaica.
She ruled that, "The general atmosphere in Jamaica is a feeling of no tolerance towards homosexuals in general and, as such, the respondent's life is definitely at risk."
The judge ordered the woman to return to court in three months.
US Department of Homeland Security officials said they still have the authority to send the woman to a country other than Jamaica.
She was released from a detention centre in Puerto Rico earlier this year and is now living with her parents in Florida.
In 2006, she was convicted on a cocaine delivery charge after pleading no contest.
Shortly afterwards, she was convicted in a Broward County Court in Florida for possession of cocaine, cannabis, and other drugs.
Judge Irma Lopez-Defillo had initially ordered that the unidentified 29 year old woman, be deported because of drug convictions.
Judge Lopez-Defillo however, deferred the order Thursday basing her decision on what she described as a "climate of intolerance" in Jamaica.
She ruled that, "The general atmosphere in Jamaica is a feeling of no tolerance towards homosexuals in general and, as such, the respondent's life is definitely at risk."
The judge ordered the woman to return to court in three months.
US Department of Homeland Security officials said they still have the authority to send the woman to a country other than Jamaica.
She was released from a detention centre in Puerto Rico earlier this year and is now living with her parents in Florida.
In 2006, she was convicted on a cocaine delivery charge after pleading no contest.
Shortly afterwards, she was convicted in a Broward County Court in Florida for possession of cocaine, cannabis, and other drugs.
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