Anoka court ruling answers prayers; Judge allows man to withdraw guilty plea to avoid federal deportation

Anoka court ruling answers prayers; Judge allows man to withdraw guilty plea to avoid federal deportation.(NEWS)

Star Tribune (Minneapolis, MN)

January 18, 1998 | Grow, Doug | Copyright

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It took a couple of lawyers to explain to members of the Ham Lake Baptist Church that their prayers for a miracle had been answered.

The Baptists had packed an Anoka County courtroom in support of Adam Carrigan, a young man of their church who has had a hard life and currently is twisted in cruel, but politically popular, immigration laws passed in 1996.

Born in the streets of Bogota, Colombia, in 1977 to parents unknown, Adam was adopted by Al and Julie Carrigan in 1985. When he arrived at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, the 8-year-old boy was greeted not only by loving parents and his new sisters, but by 75 members of Ham Lake Baptist.

But love and a good home were not enough to make his life tranquil. He found trusting anyone …

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