# They once tried to deport punter Darren Bennett

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-once-tried-to-deport-punter-darren-bennett/141384>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 8, 2002, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-once-tried-to-deport-punter-darren-bennett/141384 "2002-12-08T23:52:50Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 8\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\
**Post date:** [December 8, 2002, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-once-tried-to-deport-punter-darren-bennett/141384/1 "2002-12-08T23:52:50Z")

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Once upon a time, the NFL tried to have San Diego Chargers punter Darren Bennett, a native of Australia, deported. Well, I’m watching him punt today against the Raiders, so obviously an alternate solution was found. What exactly transpired?

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**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\
**Post date:** [November 21, 2008, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-once-tried-to-deport-punter-darren-bennett/141384/2 "2008-11-21T21:43:28Z")

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In 1998 Immigration and Naturalization Service reviewed his work visa. He basically had to prove that his employment wasn’t depriving qualified a US citizen of the job. Sports illustrated wrote an article vouching for his qualifications and INS backed off.

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**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\
**Post date:** [November 21, 2008, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-once-tried-to-deport-punter-darren-bennett/141384/3 "2008-11-21T22:43:31Z")

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Dang. A little slow on the draw there, **Inigo**. Almost six years.

Despite the age of the thread, since **Inigo** actually provided pertinent information, it can stay open.

Colibri  
General Questions Moderator

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**Author:** ![Debon\_Err](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ea924/32.png) [@Debon\_Err](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Debon_Err)\
**Post date:** [November 22, 2008, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-once-tried-to-deport-punter-darren-bennett/141384/4 "2008-11-22T03:22:13Z")

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> [@Inigo\_Montoya](#):
>
> In 1998 Immigration and Naturalization Service reviewed his work visa. He basically had to prove that his employment wasn’t depriving qualified a US citizen of the job. Sports illustrated wrote an article vouching for his qualifications and INS backed off.

Google-boy! 😛

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**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\
**Post date:** [November 22, 2008, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-once-tried-to-deport-punter-darren-bennett/141384/5 "2008-11-22T04:06:34Z")

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> [@evlkitty](#):
>
> Google-boy! 😛

Let’s have none of that, now. At least he got the first answer. 😉

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**Author:** ![Debon\_Err](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ea924/32.png) [@Debon\_Err](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Debon_Err)\
**Post date:** [November 22, 2008, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-once-tried-to-deport-punter-darren-bennett/141384/6 "2008-11-22T06:11:43Z")

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Awww, come on. Kitty just wants to play!

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**Author:** ![Cyberhwk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7993a0/32.png) [@Cyberhwk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyberhwk)\
**Post date:** [November 22, 2008, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-once-tried-to-deport-punter-darren-bennett/141384/7 "2008-11-22T06:47:59Z")

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This must be some sort of record.

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**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\
**Post date:** [November 22, 2008, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-once-tried-to-deport-punter-darren-bennett/141384/8 "2008-11-22T16:59:58Z")

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Especially since the OP is still around to see his question answered! 😃