MANUEL VELAZQUEZ-RODRIGUEZ and MIGUEL SANCHEZ-ACEVEDO are each charged in indictments with illegal re-entry to the United States, a violation of 8 U.S.C. Â§ 1326. The maximum penalty each could receive, depending on their prior criminal history, is two to 20 yearsâ imprisonment.
The income limit to receive the American Opportunity Tax Credit is  $180,000 when filing jointly or $90,000 if you are single, head of household, or a qualifying widower.
The $4,000 deduction would reduce the taxpayersâ taxable income to $46,000 and leave them still owing $5,591 â a net savings of just $600. But the American Opportunity Tax Credit is subtracted directly from that $6,191 tax bill, leaving the family with just $1,191 to pay in taxes.