Brijesh Goel said most first-time nonviolent offenders are eligible to be placed in a minimum-security federal prison camp, but his status as a “deportable alien” means he would be housed in a low-security prison with violent offenders who are serving up to 20 years. “Thus, as a first-time, non-violent offender – but also as a lawful resident – a custodial sentence would be a dramatically harsher punishment for Mr. Goel than for a U.S. citizen convicted of the same offenses,” the memorandum reads.
