SF Supervisors unanimously approve $2.1 million to provide access to counsel for refugee children facing deportation

Supe. Campos presented certificates of honor to children who testified last week

On September 16, 2014, the SF Board of Supervisors unanimously voted in support of a groundbreaking proposal to fund legal services for children who fled violence in Central America, but now face unfairly expedited deportation proceedings.  Community members, advocates, and organizations celebrated this precedent-setting initiative led by the city of San Francisco. 

Background: On the heels of last week's unanimous vote in the Budget and Finance Committee, the full Board of Supervisors unanimously voted in favor of the proposal to provide $1,063,800 a year, for 2 years, for legal support for vulnerable refugee children and their families.

Many of the children - who fled extreme violence in Central America - have been reunited with loved ones in San Francisco. Yet they face a deportation process which the Obama administration has unfairly sped up, drawing sharp criticism from legal experts and even immigration judges.

One of Pangea Legal Services’ UAC clients, testified: "In my country, two of my cousins were kidnapped as they were coming out of school. On the third day they were found in black bags, cut into pieces." Testimony from refugee children and families at last week’s hearing begins at 22:30 (http://sanfrancisco.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=7&clip_id=20928). An unrepresented child, on Sept. 17, 2014 said, "We're so grateful that you're going to help us so that we're not deported... we fled here because it was too dangerous to be in our countries"

“I am optimistic that we can get up to ten new attorneys hired as soon as possible to start representing these children. I am proud to be a San Franciscan today and hope this effort inspires other Cities, Counties, and States to stand up for our values of caring, compassion, and due process for these children,” said Supervisor David Campos.

Marie Vincent, Co-Director and Immigration Attorney for Pangea Legal Services, explained, “Successful access to counsel can profoundly improve these children’s lives by bringing them peace, stability and security.”

For more news coverage, see here.  

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SF Considers Precedent-Setting Ordinance to Provide Access to Counsel for Children

Contact: Marie Vincent (415-254-0475)

                 Immigration Attorney and Co-Director, Pangea Legal Services 

Bay Area Refugees, Children, Families, and Communities stand up for the Right to Counsel 

A significant measure is being taken by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors to provide pro bono access to counsel for unaccompanied children on the rocket docket.  Supervisor Campos has introduced an ordinance that would appropriate $1.2 million a year for two years in order to fund legal services for children in removal proceedings.  The potential impact of this precedent-setting ordinance could be huge as other counties and municipalities consider funding similar access to counsel efforts.  Please refer to the policy analysis report and text of the ordinance here. 

On September 10, 2014 at 11:30am, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors' Budget & Finance Committee will consider the ordinance and whether to forward it to the full Board of Supervisors with recommendation for approval.  All community members are encouraged to participate in the press conference and the committee hearing to explain why this funding is critical to address the refugee crisis and due process for our children.   

Where:      San Francisco City Hall (1 Dr. Carlton B Goodlett Pl, San Francisco, CA 94102)

When:       September 10, 2014 

Time:        10:30am (Press Conference - Steps of City Hall) 

                    11:30 am (Budget & Finance Committee Hearing - Room 250 City Hall) 

What:       Bay Area Refugees, Children, Families, and Communities stand up for the

                   Right to Counsel 

 

CA to Support the Right to Counsel for Unaccompanied Children

GOVERNOR BROWN, ATTORNEY GENERAL HARRIS AND LEGISLATIVE LEADERS ANNOUNCE UNACCOMPANIED MINOR LEGISLATION

8-21-2014

SACRAMENTO – Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr., Attorney General Kamala D. Harris, Senate President pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins and members of the Latino Legislative Caucus today announced legislation to provide legal services to the unaccompanied minors arriving in California from Central America.

“Helping these young people navigate our legal system is the decent thing to do and it’s consistent with the progressive spirit of California,” said Governor Brown.

The legislation provides $3 million to qualified non-profits to provide legal services for unaccompanied minors. In addition, the legislation eliminates any ambiguity regarding the jurisdiction of the state court to make findings necessary to enable the federal government to grant these minors special immigrant juvenile status. This federal status provides for an expedited naturalization process. The legislation also reinforces the court’s authority to provide interpreters to unaccompanied, undocumented minors.

“These young people have legal rights and responsibilities, but they cannot fully participate in complex immigration proceedings without an attorney,” said Attorney General Harris. “It is critical that these children, many of whom are fleeing extreme violence in Central America, have access to due process and adequate legal representation.‎”

“These kids face a daunting immigration process and any failures in our justice system that lead to deportation can be a death sentence,” said pro Tem Steinberg. “The systemic challenges addressed by this bill are a direct product of my legal team’s on-the-ground experiences and, without exaggeration, could make the difference between the life and death of a child.”

“With these bills we’re making it clear California wants unaccompanied immigrant children treated as children. We want their well-being ensured, their best interests pursued, and their safety protected,” said Speaker Atkins. “While no longer in the headlines, the humanitarian crisis that has brought so many children to our country continues. While the root causes of this crisis are being addressed, these victimized children deserve to be treated with kindness and justice.”

“I am proud that California is standing up for these children who have faced unimaginable hardships, trekking thousands of dangerous miles to escape a life of violence and poverty,” said Senate President pro Tem-elect Kevin de León. “Our state is setting the example by upholding due process for these minors.”

“The humanitarian crisis at the border involving unaccompanied minors fleeing dangerous circumstances at home is a serious problem that requires a serious response. Deportation for some of these kids is tantamount to a virtual death sentence,” said Senator Ricardo Lara, chair of the California Latino Legislative Caucus. “That’s why it’s critical that these kids have every opportunity to seek permanent residency, including through the Special Immigrant Juvenile Status. We’re clearing up confusion by stating unequivocally that California courts have the authority to review cases involving unaccompanied minors seeking the Special Immigrant Juvenile Status.”

“Our country was founded with the principle of due process for everyone and nobody deserves fair treatment in our legal system more than innocent children who are left to fend for themselves in a court of law,” said Assemblymember Lorena Gonzalez. “I couldn’t be prouder to see California setting an example that hopefully the rest of the country can follow.”

“The recent surge of unaccompanied minors is an issue that goes beyond the debate of our nation’s flawed immigration system,” said Assemblymember Luis Alejo, vice chair of the California Latino Legislative Caucus. “This is a question of whether or not we ought to take proper care of helpless children with no one to turn to. I applaud the leadership of our state’s highest officials for authorizing $3 million in emergency legal funds to give these children an effective voice in court and help protect their fundamental human rights.”

During California's Trade and Investment Mission to Mexico in July, the Governor met with Archbishop of Los Angeles José H. Gomez and religious and diplomatic leaders from Mexico and Central America for a wide-ranging discussion on immigration reform and the influx of unaccompanied children migrating to the United States.

In addition, pro Tem Steinberg and a delegation of state lawmakers went on a fact-finding mission to El Salvador and Guatemala, where they met with national leaders to discuss the root causes of a humanitarian challenge that has led to more than 57,000 minors arriving at the U.S. border since October 2013, mostly from El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala. In July, Speaker Atkins and members of the Latino Legislative Caucus toured Naval Base Ventura County, to review the conditions in which undocumented, unaccompanied children were being housed and to view how the children were responding following their journeys from Central America.

Complete legislative language will be available tomorrow.  Link to Post: http://gov.ca.gov/news.php?id=18658 

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See: https://www.facebook.com/PangeaLegalServices

Pangea: Featured in the Daily Journal

"Nonprofit law firm Pangea Legal Services fights deportation on behalf of immigrants by pulling out all the stops - legal defense, legislative advocacy, media campaigning and a fierce work ethic." 

Read the full article here. 

Alameda and Contra Costa Sheriffs Stop Responding to All ICE Detainers

On May 21, 2014, Alameda County Sheriff Greg Ahern and Contra Costa County Sheriff David Livingston declared that they will stop honoring all detainer requests by ICE and will immediately release all detainees whose sole reason for being held is their immigration status.

This change in Alameda and Contra Costa counties policy is a huge positive step for the immigrant community. Although it does not completely restore due process for all, as ICE continues to have free access to county jails, this is a great improvement for Alameda and Contra Costa residents.

Pangea Legal Services, together with ACUDIR, will continue to advocate for due process rights for all in Alameda County and other Bay Area counties.

For additional information, see:http://www.insidebayarea.com/news/ci_25809942/east-bay-sheriffs-release-immigrants-held-feds

 

Pangea Calls on USCIS to Rescind the 2014 Lesson Plan—Full Text

Full text of Petition:

Call for Integrity, Protection and Care for Asylum Seekers Undergoing Credible Fear Interviews in the United States 

We, a broad and diverse coalition of immigrants and advocates for immigrant, LGBTQ, and human rights, request an immediate rescission of the 2014 Lesson Plan on Credible Fear of Persecution and Torture Determinations (2014 Lesson Plan) issued by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on February 28, 2014.

Background: The purpose of a credible fear determination is to screen for possible refugees and to ensure that the U.S. does not return a person to a country where the person would be at risk of being persecuted or tortured. We are concerned that the 2014 Lesson Plan and resulting training of asylum officers will lead to violations of U.S. obligations under domestic and international laws to protect asylum seekers. 

USCIS formulated the 2014 Lesson Plan at a time when immigration reform has stalled in Congress and the number of individuals seeking protection in the U.S. has increased. The Chief of the Asylum Division, John Lafferty of the Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”), stated in his memo explaining the background of the 2014 Lesson Plan that its issuance is in light of the increased use of resources devoted to an increased number of credible fear adjudications. In addition, the Asylum Office stated that the 2014 Lesson Plan was designed to reduce the number of asylum seekers “clogging up the court” system. We are concerned that the 2014 Lesson Plan aims to reduce the number asylum seekers in the U.S., rather than comply with our values and statutory obligations requiring that the U.S. protect potential refugees and individuals facing torture.  

Individuals who previously would have received positive determinations have, under the 2014 Lesson Plan and training, received negative determinations including most vulnerable asylum seekers, including LGBTQ victims and survivors of domestic violence.

Time will reveal the full impact of the lesson plan, but there is early cause for concern. One organization that represented and co-counseled on a group of ~70 credible fear interviews from mid-March to early-April 2014 experienced a significantly higher rate of negative decisions than the rate that was typical in FY 2013. The Asylum Office’s explanation for the sharp increase in these negative determinations was that these asylum seekers were considered under the new 2014 Lesson Plan. None of the claims were denied based on credibility. The interviews were over the telephone, while the asylum seeker was detained, and the screening lasted 2-3 hours. The asylum seekers were essentially required to present their full asylum case during their screening, as is required under the new standards, but without the measures and resources needed for determinations to be accurate.

Just looking at this sample of 70 cases, the impact of the 2014 Lesson Plan is very troubling. It has had the effect of screening out meritorious claims of individuals including LGBTQ individuals, domestic violence survivors, and other vulnerable groups. Asylum is a complex and frequently evolving area of law, especially the category of “particular social group,” for which asylum seekers such as LGBTQ individuals and survivors of domestic violence may qualify if given an opportunity to present their claim with appropriate conditions and resources.  However, based on the snapshot we have seen, the 2014 Lesson Plan risks leading to an increase in erroneous determinations that will prevent the most vulnerable asylum seekers from ever having an opportunity for safety and protection. 

The 2014 Lesson Plan is misleading because its organization, formulation, and tone suggest a higher standard for making a positive credible fear determination than appropriate under applicable law.

When people present themselves at a port of entry in the United States and expresses a fear of returning, the law requires that the individual receives a credible fear determination from the asylum office. The standard of proof for a credible fear is a “significant possibility” that the person can establish eligibility for asylum. The significant possibility standard is meant to set  “a low threshold of proof of potential entitlement for asylum” and serve as a “net that will capture all potential refugees and individuals who would be subject to torture if returned to their country or feared persecution or harm.” 

In his detailed memorandum, Immigration Law Professor, Bill Hing, lays out some of the key problems with the 2014 Lesson Plan. According to Professor Hing, the 2014 Lesson Plan is riddled with a tone that conveys a higher burden of proof for the asylum applicant than the appropriate standard for credible fear. The law, as interpreted by the Supreme Court, provides that “a 10% chance of persecution may be sufficient to establish a well-founded fear” for asylum. Credible fear is merely a screening process to determine possible eligibility for asylum or that a 1 in 10 chance of persecution is likely.  This standard carries an important humanitarian purpose given what is at stake in making a mistake. One problem with the 2014 Lesson Plan is that it instructs officers to require that an asylum seeker “produce sufficiently convincing evidence that establishes the facts of the case.” This misleadingly insinuates that at the screening phase, an asylum seeker has the burden of providing evidence to support the asylum claim. It further states, “While a mere possibility of success is insufficient to meet the credible fear standard, the ‘significant possibility’ standard does not require the applicant to demonstrate that the chances of success are more likely than not.” This is one of many examples in which the 2014 Lesson Plan misleadingly insinuates that a slightly less than 50% possibility of success is required.

Thus, the Lesson Plan risks great confusion that a high possibility of success is required, which is inappropriate under the Supreme Court precedent.

With the 2014 Lesson Plan, DHS greatly risks erroneously returning many asylum seekers in violation of basic principles of refugee law.

The way to address the influx of people seeking protection—that is both humane and ethical and in compliance with domestic and international law—is to set up safety systems, agencies, and programs to absorb the need. The 2014 Lesson Plan, however, could have the effect of returning tens of thousands of traumatized victims of violence, who often take great risks and face dangerous journeys to seek safety in the U.S.

One of the basic principles of refugee law, non-refoulement, refers to the obligation of States not to refoule, or return, a refugee to “the frontiers of territories where his life or freedom would be threatened on account of his race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion.” Non-refoulement is universally acknowledged as a human right, including by the United States, as codified by Congress in the Refugee Act of 1980. In the United States, the principle of non-refoulement prohibits the removal of potential refugees and individuals fleeing torture, and it attaches before a determination is made in a case.

By improperly raising the bar for credible fear, DHS risks eliminating a crucial safety net and returning many asylum seekers erroneously, in direct violation of international law and statute, the 1951 Convention and its 1967 Protocol, and the principle of non-refoulement as implemented through the 1980 Refugee Act.

Call for integrity, protection, and care for asylum seekers in the United States.

We call for a basic level of integrity, protection, and care for asylum seekers undergoing credible fear interviews in the United States. We urge USCIS to rescind the 2014 Lesson Plan and retrain officers to apply an appropriate standard that upholds our values and laws.

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Thank for your support - please consider signing the petition here.

Niloufar Khonsari
Pangea Legal Services

Pangea & Partners Publish Letter to Rescind the USCIS 2014 Lesson Plan

Dear Friends, 

Today, Pangea Legal Services, Transgender Law Center, Central America Resource Center-San Francisco (CARECEN), and more than 60 other organizations published a letter calling on USCIS to rescind its recent “2014 Lesson Plan.”

What is the “2014 Lesson Plan”? The Lesson Plan is a training guide for asylum officers to screen for possible asylees and people who might be at risk of torture if deported. We are concerned that the lesson plan and the resulting training was intended to deny a greater number of cases and will increase the number of erroneous denials for many asylum seekers at the credible fear interview stage.

Sign our Petition to Protect Asylum Seekers: “USCIS Rescind the 2014 Lesson Plan”

Individuals who previously would have received positive determinations have, under the 2014 Lesson Plan and training, received negative determinations including some of the most vulnerable asylum seekers, such as LGBTQ survivors of persecution and survivors of domestic violence.

Recently, several of our community members presented credible pleas for protection, cases that would have been approved prior to the new Lesson Plan. Case in point: Yordy Cancino. Yordy is with us today because of the many petitions and phone calls made by his community on his behalf and the legal advocacy to appeal his erroneous initial determination that was based on the interpretation of the new Lesson Plan.

Please sign our Petition asking USCIS to rescind the 2014 Lesson Pan and retrain officers to apply an appropriate standard that upholds our values and laws.

Help us avoid this process for others like Yordy, and ask USCIS to rescind the Lesson Plan and retain its asylum officers. Thank you for your support.

Niloufar Khonsari
Pangea Legal Services

Yordy Cancino

P.S. — Yordy’s supporters are trying to raise $7,500 to get him out of detention. Please support them by making a donation of $25, $50, or $100.


Background: 

Earlier this year, the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) released the 2014 Lesson Plan to Asylum Officers throughout the country. The Lesson Plan offers a guideline for Asylum Officers who screen for possible asylees and individuals who may be at risk of torture if deported.

Unfortunately, the 2014 Lesson Plan undermines the asylum process because a neutral—and natural—reading of the text suggests that Asylum Officers should apply a standard that is at odds with U.S. law and public policy. We find this troubling, and we are concerned that the Lesson Plan and its concomitant training will result in an increasing number of erroneous denials for asylum seekers.

Pangea Legal Services works to serve and stand with immigrants in many ways, including direct legal services, policy advocacy, and community empowerment / education.  To address our concerns with the 2014 Lesson Plan, we have worked with various non-profit organizations throughout the country to write a petition to Mr. John Lafferty, the Chief of the Asylum Division at USCIS, asking him to rescind his 2014 Lesson Plan. We urge Mr. Lafferty and USCIS to rescind the 2014 Lesson Plan so that asylum seekers have a fair chance of presenting their claims. The full text of our petition is below, and we encourage you to sign our petition electronically here.

Precedent-Setting DACA Granted for DREAMer, Jesus

Do you remember coming out to rally for Jesus Ruiz Diego in late 2012?  We have exciting news to share about his case!

Many of you were among the 5000+ who signed the petition for Jesus’ release, rallied, and called your congressional representatives for him.  Jesus was in detention for 3 months solely for returning to his family and life in the US after an unjust deportation.  While our collective advocacy led to Jesus’ release in December 2012, the legal struggle continued. Jesus remained in an alternative detention program on an ankle monitor and was under continuous supervision by immigration authorities. 

But now, we have big news. Jesus has now been completely released and is no longer under supervision.  After more than one year of work to obtain legal status through DACA, Jesus was granted deferred action.

Jesus is a DREAMer who arrived in the US when he was 4-years-old and became the first in his family and neighborhood to graduate from high school.  He was ordered deported in 1998, at age 11. This order was executed in 2008 and he was deported to Mexico.  He quickly returned to the US, the only home he knew; he was then, again, picked up in September 2012 at his workplace, for an expedited deportation.   

His prior deportation in 2008 made Jesus' DACA application complicated, as it appeared at first glance that he did not qualify because of the time he involuntarily spent outside the country.  Many advocates and experts said it was hopeless and there was no chance in this case.  I am excited to share that despite this hurdle, Jesus' DACA application was granted as of a few weeks ago, thanks to our strong community support, continuous legal strategizing, creative legal advocacy, and some dreaming.   

 

As Jesus said, "14 months ago, this moment didn't feel possible. But then as I was sitting in a county jail under ICE custody I saw my story on the news. I saw people that I've never met before outside the San Francisco ICE building holding up signs that read "FREE JESUS."  That was a feeling that I'll never forget because I went from feeling hopeless to feeling hopeful.

In the larger context, Jesus’ case demonstrates the importance of decriminalizing immigrants who have been previously deported and serves as a call to action to stop all deportations of our community members.  

THANK YOU, to all of you who supported Jesus, who has become a dear friend and inspiration to me and all of us at Pangea Legal Services.   

 

Celebrating with Jesus, family, friends, and advocates for immigrant justice.

Celebrating with Jesus, family, friends, and advocates for immigrant justice.

 

Background and Legal Context for This DACA Grant

Pangea Legal Services has been working hard to push for Jesus' DACA application to be approved so that he can join the many youth who now have temporary, renewable immigration relief (work authorization eligibility, SSN, and ID rights) through an executive order passed by the president in 2012.  

Because of a 1998 order of deportation issued when Jesus was only 11 years old, he was picked up at his home and deported in 2008 as a young adult in his early 20s.  He immediately returned to California, the only home he knew.  In September 2012, ICE reinstated the order of deportation issued against Jesus, came to his work, and detained him.  We submitted his DACA application to USCIS with significant documentation about Jesus' short, innocent, and casual absence in 2008.  However, USCIS still requested further documentation of this and issued a Request for Evidence (RFE) requiring Jesus to address his deportation in 2008. 

We took the strategy of moving the Immigration Court to reopen the prior deportation in order to render the USCIS RFE moot.  Pangea filed a motion to reopen deportation proceedings for administrative closure and DACA processing for Jesus.  We argued that when Jesus was a child, his family fell victim to ineffective assistance of counsel and for this reason he was ordered deported in 1998.  We also argued that Jesus was eligible for DACA in every way, but for the 2008 deportation that was a result of the ineffective assistance of counsel rendering the 1998 order of deportation.

Our motion to reopen was granted. We then filed a copy of the judge’s order granting our motion to reopen with USCIS in our response to the RFE.  With USCIS, we argued that Jesus’ 2008 absence by deportation was rendered moot and should be treated as if it did not occur.  It worked.  

USCIS approved Jesus’ DACA application, after over a year of legal strategizing, complex case reopening, rallies, petitions, congressional outreach, and 15 months after filing. 

 Jesus is pursuing college, continuing to be a role model for his siblings and community, and is a leader with PACT, an immigrant rights organization based in San Jose.  

It has been quite a journey, and we have seen first-hand now, that dreams do come true.

 

Join us for a Training on the SF Due Process Ordinance

Learn about a new SF law drastically limiting the circumstances in which your client can be turned over to immigration officials.


Date:       January 23, 2014 ~ 5:30-7:00

Location: Covington & Burling, LLP

                  One Front Street ~ San Francisco, CA 94111

1.5 hours MCLE credit. Suggested donation of $15-30 ~ Nobody turned away for lack of funds. 


Please RSVP to Audrey Daniel at adaniel@lccr.com

Panelists:

*         Chris Gauger, San Francisco Public Defender's Office

*         Grisel Ruiz, Immigrant Legal Resource Center

*         Niloufar Khonsari, Pangea Legal Services

*         Leah Chen Price, Law Offices of Christina Y. Chen (Moderator)

In October 2013, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to reject the vast majority of ICE hold requests to detain immigrants in our local jails for pick-up by federal immigration authorities. While this means that the city will generally not cooperate with ICE hold requests, there are narrow exceptions that could result in such detention. ICE hold requests and these exceptions will be explored for the education of immigration and criminal attorneys to ensure that the newly enacted ordinance is being properly implemented. Please join us to learn more about the new limitations on San Francisco's cooperation with immigration authorities and how it could affect your clients!

This program is brought to you by San Francisco Immigrant Rights Defense Committee (SFIRDC). To learn more, please visit www.sfirdc.org. 

 

Pangea helps Stop the Deportation of Local Grandfather and Long-time Resident of Richmond, California

For Immediate Release

Contacts: Marie Vincent, marie[at]pangealegal.org 

Community and family celebrate stay of removal of Felipe Valdes.

Background: Felipe de Jesus Valdes Lozano immigrated from Mexico to the United States +20 years ago. A hard worker and regular US taxpayer, Mr. Valdes is also the founder of a local soccer league that supports several referee jobs.  He is a loving father, husband, and a grandfather to a 4-year-old girl. Today, Mr. Valdes is the primary support for the family of five. His son has serious spinal abnormalities and depends on specialized chiropractic and medical care.  Mr. Valdes' oldest daughter, Mayra, is pregnant and is due to have her second baby in early December. Her father’s immigration situation has been extremely stressful for her and has placed her health at risk.

Since his family does not have health insurance, they depend on Mr. Valdes to cover the high costs of medical care.  His two older children, who are DACA approved-DREAMers are enrolled in college, and dream of having their dad see them graduate. 

For more than ten years, Mr. Valdes has been a victim of notario fraud and shoddy attorney representation.  He has been eligible for a strong U Visa for the last 10 years and was never advised to apply until recently.  He currently has a U Visa application pending and is on his way to becoming a lawful resident of the United States.   

In late October 2013, Mr. Valdes received a letter from Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE), asking him to report for deportation to Mexico on November 18, 2013.     

Accompanied by Pangea Attorney, Marie Vincent, his family and many community members, Mr. Valdes complied with his reporting obligation on November 18th and appeared at ICE in a timely fashion.  His attorney entered the ICE building with Mr. Valdes to submit a detailed and well-supported application for a stay of removal, while community members chanted and voiced their support during a vigil outside of the building with his family and friends.   

ICE granted a one-year stay, the maximum length possible and agreed not to detain Mr. Valdes.  He will now watch his second grandchild be born and his son graduate from high school in the United States while he supplements and awaits the processing of his U Visa application.   

Mr. Valdes is a prime example for the reason just immigration reform is necessary.  His courage to come forward and share his case with the public will hopefully serve to empower others like him to come out of the shadows and stand for the right to keep our families together.  

For coverage of this story on Telemundo TV, please click here. 

Marie Vincent (on left) and Felipe de Jesus Valdes (on right), entering ICE at 630 Sansome Street, San Francisco, CA to request a Stay Motion, at the brink of deportation.

Marie Vincent (on left) and Felipe de Jesus Valdes (on right), entering ICE at 630 Sansome Street, San Francisco, CA to request a Stay Motion, at the brink of deportation.