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Obama's executive order on immigration may not go far enough for my family Obama's executive order on immigration may not go far enough for my family
(about 2 hours later)
On New Year’s Eve, the United States government may force me to board a plane and leave my life and my family behind forever – all because I came here from Honduras to start a better life, and came back to be a better father.On New Year’s Eve, the United States government may force me to board a plane and leave my life and my family behind forever – all because I came here from Honduras to start a better life, and came back to be a better father.
My only hope for being spared from deportation is the White House’s soon-to-be-announced executive action on immigration. I’m a parent of citizen children – and have long-standing ties to my community – but, because Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) have already set a deadline for me to leave the country, that could still be used against me.My only hope for being spared from deportation is the White House’s soon-to-be-announced executive action on immigration. I’m a parent of citizen children – and have long-standing ties to my community – but, because Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) have already set a deadline for me to leave the country, that could still be used against me.
I came to the US in 2000 and found a new home in New Orleans after being driven from Honduras by poverty, extreme violence and my own refusal to do nothing and watch my family go hungry.I came to the US in 2000 and found a new home in New Orleans after being driven from Honduras by poverty, extreme violence and my own refusal to do nothing and watch my family go hungry.
Like many others, I arrived and put myself to work, turning any check I got into something to send home to my parents. Even today, my elderly father works for a living, but he only makes $50 every two weeks. With my mother in the hospital suffering from cancer, they need my support more than ever – and, if I were in Honduras, I probably wouldn’t be able to provide any.Like many others, I arrived and put myself to work, turning any check I got into something to send home to my parents. Even today, my elderly father works for a living, but he only makes $50 every two weeks. With my mother in the hospital suffering from cancer, they need my support more than ever – and, if I were in Honduras, I probably wouldn’t be able to provide any.
But when Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans 9 years ago, it did so much damage to my home I would’ve become homeless if my friend hadn’t offered his apartment as a temporary refuge. But my friend hadn’t told me that his landlord had banned subletters, housemates or long-term guests and, instead of asking me to leave, the landlord called the police. I was arrested and, even though the charges were dropped, I was turned over to Ice for deportation. But when Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans nine years ago, it did so much damage to my home I would’ve become homeless if my friend hadn’t offered his apartment as a temporary refuge. But my friend hadn’t told me that his landlord had banned subletters, housemates or long-term guests and, instead of asking me to leave, the landlord called the police. I was arrested and, even though the charges were dropped, I was turned over to Ice for deportation.
But I had my life here – my beautiful baby girl was only a few months old – and I faced only threats and unemployment in Honduras. So I became what Ice calls a “repeat offender” and returned to the life I had established for myself, to be part of helping the city I had come to love recover from the storm.But I had my life here – my beautiful baby girl was only a few months old – and I faced only threats and unemployment in Honduras. So I became what Ice calls a “repeat offender” and returned to the life I had established for myself, to be part of helping the city I had come to love recover from the storm.
Another 8 years went by and I almost thought my life was secure: I was working, my city was recovering, and I became a proud father to my second child. But a literal wrong turn on the way to work threw everything into chaos again. Another eight years went by and I almost thought my life was secure: I was working, my city was recovering, and I became a proud father to my second child. But a literal wrong turn on the way to work threw everything into chaos again.
I was pulled over by police on a traffic violation, arrested, and transferred to Ice again because of my prior deportation. This time though, a local group – the Congreso de Jornaleros – helped me get released and fight my pending deportation.I was pulled over by police on a traffic violation, arrested, and transferred to Ice again because of my prior deportation. This time though, a local group – the Congreso de Jornaleros – helped me get released and fight my pending deportation.
Through them, I didn’t just learn my rights: I began defending them. I’m a union member and part of a lawsuit to recover stolen wages. In April, I went without eating for five days at the door of the White House as part of a hunger strike to urge President Obama to act on immigration. Last month, I marched with children from the Congreso leading the demand that the deportations of their parents be stopped. Injustices like deportation robs kids of their childhood, but the president can stop it from robbing these children – and many others – of their parents.Through them, I didn’t just learn my rights: I began defending them. I’m a union member and part of a lawsuit to recover stolen wages. In April, I went without eating for five days at the door of the White House as part of a hunger strike to urge President Obama to act on immigration. Last month, I marched with children from the Congreso leading the demand that the deportations of their parents be stopped. Injustices like deportation robs kids of their childhood, but the president can stop it from robbing these children – and many others – of their parents.
Were it not for our dedication to protect our civil rights and keep our families together, I would have been put on a plane a long time ago. And now, at least, there is some hope that the president will use his executive authority to keep our families and our communities together. But the question is how many of us will qualify and how will those lines be drawn when we are all equally deserving.Were it not for our dedication to protect our civil rights and keep our families together, I would have been put on a plane a long time ago. And now, at least, there is some hope that the president will use his executive authority to keep our families and our communities together. But the question is how many of us will qualify and how will those lines be drawn when we are all equally deserving.
There are undocumented people like me who have locked themselves to the wheels of deportation buses, telling the president, “If you don’t stop deportations, we will stop them ourselves.” It would be a travesty if the people who fought for relief for undocumented immigrants aren’t among the recipients of it because the forthcoming executive guidelines could exclude civil rights leaders just because they may not have children born here.There are undocumented people like me who have locked themselves to the wheels of deportation buses, telling the president, “If you don’t stop deportations, we will stop them ourselves.” It would be a travesty if the people who fought for relief for undocumented immigrants aren’t among the recipients of it because the forthcoming executive guidelines could exclude civil rights leaders just because they may not have children born here.
My case shows just how arbitrary these lines are – the very lines of humanity, community, family and service that may be redrawn as soon as this week. Though my everyday American life ought to qualify me for whatever relief is offered by a new executive order, a hurricane and a wrong turn might mean that my family is torn apart just after Christmas.My case shows just how arbitrary these lines are – the very lines of humanity, community, family and service that may be redrawn as soon as this week. Though my everyday American life ought to qualify me for whatever relief is offered by a new executive order, a hurricane and a wrong turn might mean that my family is torn apart just after Christmas.
Ice continues to tell me to buy a plane ticket and plan to fly away before the new year. My community, my family and I want the President to act, so that won’t be necessary. Ice continues to tell me to buy a plane ticket and plan to fly away before the new year. My community, my family and I want the president to act, so that won’t be necessary.