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Report: U.S. immigration authorities seeking to deport Kings' Voynov

Don McPeak / Reuters

United States immigration officials are reportedly planning to pursue the deportation of Los Angeles Kings defenseman Slava Voynov.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement confirmed to Russian news agency TASS on Wednesday that it's seeking to deport Voynov, who was taken into immigration custody following his release from prison last week.

Voynov served a three-month jail sentence after pleading no contest to a domestic violence charge in July.

ICE Western Region spokeswoman Virginia Kice told TASS the decision to place Voynov in removal proceedings was made following "a comprehensive review of the case.

"As with anyone who's facing deportation, he'll be afforded due process and the immigration court will ultimately determine whether he'll be subject to removal from the U.S.," she said.

One ICE official, who asked not to be identified, told TASS that Voynov was denied bond in the case "given his prior conviction for a crime of violence."

Voynov was suspended with pay by the NHL after his arrest last October. The Kings suspended him without pay in June after he suffered an Achilles injury during non-hockey activities.

- With h/t to Sports Illustrated

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