Is David DePape a US citizen? Paul Pelosi attacker is an illegal immigrant facing possible deportation
Update: The Department of Homeland Security said late Wednesday, Nov 2 that David DePape is a Canadian citizen who is overstaying in the United States and is facing possible deportation after his criminal cases are resolved.
“U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) lodged an immigration detainer on Canadian national David DePape with San Francisco County Jail, Nov. 1, following his Oct. 28 arrest,” DHS officials told Washington Post in an email. Relatives say that DePape grew up in British Columbia, but his journey to Northern California has remained a mystery.
Canadians traveling for business or pleasure generally do not require visas, officials said, and he was admitted as a “temporary visitor,” traveling for pleasure, DHS said. Such people are generally permitted to stay for up to six months. DHS did not say precisely when DePape’s permission to stay in the United States expired.
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SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA: David DePape has been indicted with a slew of state and federal charges for attacking Nancy Pelosi's husband, Paul Pelosi, on Friday, October 28. Now, there is confusion regarding his citizenship and his visa. It is becoming increasingly likely that the attacker stayed in the US illegally, according to Washington Examiner.
The Examiner reported that DePape landed in California 20 years back to pursue a relationship. He was born a Canadian and arrived in the US as early as 2001. The portal said that there is nothing illegal when it comes to a Canadian visiting the country. However, the validity of their visa is only for six months. If one wants to extend it, it can be done only for a maximum of another six months. Later on, it is compulsory to go back to their home country.
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Hence, it is likely that DePape, after his first year in the US, became an illegal immigrant. However, it is possible that he acquired US citizenship as he had an American parent, married a US citizen at some point, or pursued naturalization through some other path. But so far, no such thing has been reported.
As an illegal immigrant, it would have been impossible for DePape to secure a legal job, hence there are concerns regarding how he managed living in the country for so long. Meanwhile, Oxane 'Gypsy' Taub, who was once the attacker's partner, also raised concerns regarding his mental health.
"He is mentally ill. He has been mentally ill for a long time," she said, reported ABC 7. She also added that he disappeared for a year in between. "He came back in very bad shape. He thought he was Jesus. He was constantly paranoid, thinking people were after him," Taub said. "And it took a good year or two to get back to, you know, being halfway normal." She also added, "When I met him, he was only 20 years old, and he didn't have any experience in politics, and he was very much in alignment with my views and I've always been very progressive. I absolutely admire Nancy Pelosi."
Furthermore, according to CNN, DePape was charged with one count of attempted kidnapping of a US official and an array of other crimes, including assault and attempted murder. He has also been charged with one count of assault of an immediate family member of a US official intending to retaliate against the official. Meanwhile, he is also facing state charges. This may include “attempted murder, residential burglary, assault with a deadly weapon, elder abuse, false imprisonment of an elder, and threats to a public official and their family.”