Clinton Townshim, MI - U.S. Frees Ex-Nazi Camp Guard

Clinton Townshim, MI - Federal authorities freed a former Nazi concentration camp guard after failing to find a country willing to take the 81-year-old man, who had been stripped of his U.S. citizenship.

The U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals in January upheld a decision to revoke Johann Leprich's citizenship.
In September, Leprich's lawyer asked a federal judge to order his client released, citing a 2001 U.S. Supreme Court decision requiring the freeing of those still held for deportation six months after a removal order.
The Justice Department said it released Leprich because Romania, Hungary and Germany refused to accept him, despite high-level meetings with officials from those countries, "What country is going to accept an 81-year-old man who is in declining health?" said Leprich's attorney, Joseph McGinness.

Leprich was released to his wife and son, he must report weekly to ICE and the agency will continue to seek his deportation.
Leprich was arrested in 2003 when authorities found him hiding behind a panel under the basement stairs at his family's home about 20 miles northeast of Detroit.