Somerville band member held without bond

By Jack Nicas

Vincente Lebron, drummer for the Somerville-based band Either/Orchestra, was detained at Logan Airport in May upon returning from the band’s European tour. His passport and green card were confiscated and he was ordered to attend an ‚Äúentry hearing‚Äù on June 9. The results of that hearing summoned him to the South Bay Correctional Center in Boston, where he remains today.

On Thursday, Lebron had his deportation hearing in Boston’s JFK Federal Building. His attorney, Lenore Glaser, requested another hearing, to decide if Lebron can avoid deportation. If so, a ‚Äúmerits hearing,‚Äù a trial to decide if Lebron should be deported, will be set.

Lebron, a resident of the United States for almost 40 years with three children who are citizens, might qualify for a waiver that protects immigrants who have an immediate family member who is a U.S. citizen and would suffer “extreme hardship” from a deportation, said his attorney Lenore Glaser.

At Thursday’s hearing, Judge Leonard Shapiro told Lebron to ‚Äúbe patient,‚Äù as merits hearings are few and far between. Lebron’s next hearing is set for July 24.

According to U.S. law, every time a legal immigrant reenters the country, he or she is subject to 46 grounds of inadmissibility. After a 1998 immigration reform, any immigrant charged, arrested or released after October 8, 1998 may be subject to mandatory detention, without the option of bond.

When Lebron reentered the country in May, a prior arrest led to his mandatory detention. At the hearing, Judge Shapiro said Lebron had two drug possession convictions on his record.

Either/Orchestra co-founder Russ Gershon said the band has been affected by Lebron’s absence. ‚ÄúHe’s been a member for 10 years and we’re very upset he’s being held in prison.‚Äù