Rodney Taylor, a Black barber from Georgia, is now at risk of deportation to Liberia, despite having lived in the U.S. for nearly his entire life. His immigration status came into question due to a decades-old criminal charge, even though he was pardoned years ago.
A Life Built in the U.S.
Taylor arrived in the U.S. at just two years old on a medical visa to undergo surgeries for a congenital condition affecting his hands and feet. America became his home, but his immigration status was never fully resolved.
Over the years, he built a thriving career as a barber, known not just for his craft but for creating a safe space where Black men could discuss health issues like lung cancer screenings.
Pardoned Crime Still Leads to ICE Arrest
At 16, Taylor was charged with felony burglary. The Georgia Parole Board later pardoned him, but ICE still classified him as an aggravated felon, leading to his detention.
“They picked me up and said I was an aggravated felon. They treated me like I was a criminal,” Taylor told 11Alive. “They told me automatic deportation. I can’t see a judge; I can’t get a hearing.”
Immigration attorney Charles Kuck explained that while U.S. immigration laws haven’t changed in decades, enforcement has become more aggressive. Taylor’s case reveals how even those pardoned by the state can still face deportation.
A Future in Limbo
Taylor was arrested by ICE in January, just days after proposing to his fiancée. He has since spent three months in detention, enduring overcrowded conditions where detainees sleep on the floor. Despite his circumstances, he continues to give haircuts to fellow detainees, helping them maintain dignity.
His fiancée and supporters are fighting for his release, but with no court date set, his fate remains uncertain.
“I pray that my immigration status is approved,” Taylor said. “That’s the only thing that can get me out of this situation.
