NIYA RELEASE: Dreamers to be Deported on Thursday Unless DHS Grants Discretion

Oct 23, 2013
11:50 AM

We received this from the National Immigration Youth Alliance today:

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Administration plays hard-ball with #Dream30

NATIONAL—More denials are expected for the Dream 30, as the Obama Administration tries to put an end to their quest to come home. Two Dreamers who were part of the #Dream30 in Laredo, Texas will have court on Thursday morning at 9AM. They could be sent to Ciudad Juarez as early as Thursday night, putting them in immediate and serious danger.

The court will be open to the media and will take place at 8915 Montana Ave., El Paso, TX 79925.

Despite the growing support for the #Dream30 among members of Congress, the Department of Homeland Security is fast-tracking the deportations of the Dreamers. Two of the Dreamers will see an Immigration Judge on Thursday, and will either be deported immediately or allowed to come home. More than 500 college professors have also signed a petition calling for the president to bring them home.

As Congress debates immigration reform, and a new director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement takes the helm, this is a critical moment for the president to show if he is committed to keeping families together, or to his record-breaking deportation numbers. Deporting these Dreamers may be the first major action on immigration John Sandweg takes as director of ICE.

Representative Zoe Lofgren has called upon DHS to use its discretionary powers:

“Most of these cases are awaiting a decision by an asylum officer, but I am told that two of these individuals, Rocio Hernandez and Erika Isaura Guzman Mata, were recently found not to have a credible fear of persecution and are awaiting a decision by an Immigration Judge,” reads a statement from Lofgren. “I would ask that each of these cases be given a thorough review and that you consider using your considerable discretionary authority to allow these young people to be released from detention and returned to their loved ones. Our broken immigration system has separated far too many families, including those of Rocio and Erika.”

Along with Lofgren, the following representatives have given us letters or statements of support: Reps. Robert Brady, Yvette Clarke, Lloyd Doggett, Chaka Fattah, Luis Gutierrez, Raul Grijalva, Mike Honda, John Lewis, Beto O’Rourke, Kristen Sinema, Marc Veasey, Nydia Velazquez, and John Yarmuth. Other congressional offices have expressed their intention to send letters. Over 15,000 people has signed a petition asking for discretion, as well as 600 college professors.

The administration can choose to bring these Dreamers home. Please call 734.262.9705 to attend the court date tomorrow in El Paso.