A Mexican teen who swiped an anti-immigration sign from a Southampton protester may be deported

Kieran Crowley:

Joel Martines, 18, is accused of grabbing a sign Thursday from an anti-illegal immigration protester outside a 7-Eleven store, where immigrants gather to wait for work - and protesters regularly gather to oppose their presence.

Cops quickly responded.

"We are not too far away these days, based on what's going on in the area," said Detective Sgt. Herman Lamison of Southampton Village police.

Martines was spotted in the area, and cops soon had him under arrest.

It turned out that Martines was wanted on an illegal-immigration warrant by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

After his arraignment on charges of fourth-degree theft and giving police a false identity, Martines was handed over to federal authorities.

"I guess he's got a free ticket home," said Lamison.

Poetic justice in action.