France seeks bigger role in San Antonio's growth

San Antonio is in the midst of an "economic miracle," and French businesses want to be part of it, the country's U.S. ambassador said here Thursday.

There are three areas in particular -- mass transit, medicine and tourism -- in which French companies can help San Antonio develop more quickly, Jean-David Levitte said during a luncheon at the Westin Riverwalk.

"These are three areas that are very important for the economy of San Antonio as well as three areas of our economy where we have really a technological edge," he said.

U.S. still trying to deport ex-citizen - After France and his native Haiti refused to accept convict Lionel Jean-Baptiste, U.S. authorities now want to deport him to the Dominican Republic

U.S. officials have notified Lionel Jean-Baptiste, the first naturalized American in 44 years ordered deported after losing citizenship over a drug conviction, that they will try to remove him to the Dominican Republic after Haiti and France refused to take him.

Jean-Baptiste told The Miami Herald that he received the notification Tuesday, the deadline for an administrative review of his custody case.

Under federal regulations, immigration officers review a foreign detainee's custody 90 days after his deportation order becomes final -- if removal has not been carried out. The U.S. Supreme Court has said foreign nationals who cannot be deported can be held in detention up to six months -- unless officials classify them as a danger to the community or "special circumstance" cases.