Families of immigrants who are slated to be deported Tuesday are asking ICE for one last chance and asking President Obama to expand low-priority categories to include people who were previously deported.
WHAT: Octavio Nava Carrera and Brigido Acosta Luis, likely to be deported on Tuesday, are considered "high priority" for deportation for reuniting with their families after being deported in the past, a category which President Obama has the power to change.
Their families, undocumented immigrants previously deported, and advocates will be speaking at a press conference to ask immigration officials for one last chance to keep their relatives in the U.S. and urging President Obama to take action to stop deportations. They will be accompanied by other undocumented immigrants and immigrant rights advocates launching a local campaign to advocate for those who were deported and reunited with their families, have a right to remain in the country. This is part of the national campaign calling for "Not one more" deportation, calling on President Obama to take action to stop deportations, and address his egregious record of deporting close to 2 million people during his term.
WHEN: Tuesday November 19, 2013; 9:30 AM
WHERE: 1414 N. 37th Avenue, Melrose, Illinois, Missionary Sisters of St. Charles Borromeo Scalabrinians Convent.
WHO: Maria Nava, mother of Octavio Nava Carrera, and Maria Paz, wife of Brigido Acosta Luis, both of whom are facing imminent deportation from Broadview Detention Center, likely this Tuesday.
Other supporters include supporters from Organized Communities Against Deportation, Undocumented Illinois, the Immigrant Youth Justice League, Comité en Defensa del Inmigrante, the Chicago Community and Worker's Rights, West Suburban Action Project ( PASO ), the National Day Laborer Organizing Network, and National People's Action.
WHY: Undocumented immigrants who have been deported in the past are at high risk for being separated from their families, regardless of whether they have children, criminal records, or have lived in the country for more than 10 years. Considered "high-priority" for deportation under Immigration and Customs Enforcement criteria. This means that if immigration authorities detain them, they can be deported without contest or being able to apply for relief, they can be permanently barred from gaining lawful status, and can be criminally prosecuted for "unlawful reentry," which is a federal felony. These ICE enforcement actions all over the country, including right here in Illinois have resulted in individuals, parents whom have re-entered to be with their children, being stripped away from their families. These individuals are not a threat to the community, have contributed to this country, have built a life in the United States, and have no criminal record or no more than a minor misdemeanor. These are also a group that would have qualified under the Senate version of the immigration bill that was supported by the President, but continue to be a high priority for deportation.