Nine people have been detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers after crossing the Morley pedestrian bridge at the Nogales port of entry.
The crossing was a scheduled demonstration organized by the National Immigrant Youth Alliance to test the recently passed Immigration Reform Act.
The deportees claim they should have legal status in the states based on elements from the DREAM Act, a stalled provision that defers deportation of some immigrants.
July 22, 2013
Brian White
kvoa.com
Becuase they were not properly documented, they were detained, ICE officials said.
NOGALES - News 4 reporter Nathan O'Neal is on assignment in Nogales, Arizona Monday where a demonstration/protest is happening to "test" federal immigration policy.
Five deported DREAMers will attempt to return home by presenting themselves at the Nogales Port of Entry in order to "test the Obama Administration's policy on deported immigrants," a release from the National Immigrant Youth Alliance stated.
Here's some video from O'Neal of the protest developing Monday morning:
News 4 reporter Sam Salzwedel shot this package Sunday for the upcoming demonstration that was scheduled Monday:
Here is some information regarding the five participants in the demonstration:
- Claudia Amaro, 37, from Monterrey, Mexico moved to Colorado when she was thirteen years old. Her mother fled Mexico after her father was murdered and the family was threatened. In 2006, while living in Wichita, Kansas, Claudia's next husband was detained while driving to work. ICE detained Claudia while interpreting for her husband. Living in Mexico has been hard for Claudia and her thirteen-year-old US citizen son. Finally, her mother gained legal status last year and was able to visit her grandson for the first time in seven years. Claudia is coming home to put the family back together that deportation tore apart.
- Adriana Diaz, 22, from Mexico City, first came to Phoenix, Arizona when she was just four months old. Adriana graduated from Crestview Preparatory high school in 2010 with many accolades, including the Citizenship Award. To this day, two of her murals decorate its walls. Adriana left Phoenix three months before DACA was announced. She left because she was tired of living in fear under Arpaio, not knowing each night if her mom was going to come home.
- Once in Nogales, Adriana tried to go to school. Because she lived so long in the US, Mexico recognized her as a foreign student and would not accept her US degree. Instead of going to school, Adriana has been working with migrants at the Juan Bosco shelter in Sonora. Adriana is coming home because she has no memories in Mexico. Her entire life was in Phoenix-she has memories of school, birthdays, going to prom-even her partner of four years lives in Phoenix. Everyone deserves to come home.
- Luis Gustavo, 20, from Michoacán, Mexico has lived in North Carolina since he was five years old. He graduated from McDowell High School. Luis left Marion, NC, in August 2011 with the hopes of being able to finally go to school in Mexico. Luis, not being able to stand being away from his family, tried to come home in June 2012 when the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program was announced.
- Luis never made it; he was caught by border patrol. The responding agent sympathized with him, and filed for DACA on his behalf, but saw it rejected. Luis was subsequentlydeported. Desperate to come home, Luis attempted to re-enter three more times, and failed on each attempt. Luis is coming home to be with his mother, sister, and four brothers.
- Maria Peniche, 22, from Mexico City first came to Boston when she was just ten years old. She graduated from Revere high school in 2010 and went on to attend Pine Manor College. By 2012, paying the high price of tuition became too difficult, and she dropped out. Three days before DACA was announced, Maria left for Mexico to continue her schooling. "Here in Mexico you can only do one thing, either work or go to school," she said. Maria has had to put off her studies and work in order to provide for her family. Maria is coming home to provide for herself and her family, and pursue her education.
- Ceferino Santiago, 21, came to Lexington, Kentucky, at the age of thirteen in order to be with his older brother, Pedro. Ceferino is a permanent part of the Lexington community; he helped paint a mural at one of the local middle schools. During high-school, Ceferino ran for the school cross country team and was honored as one of the program's top student-athletes in 2010. After graduating from high school, Ceferino was forced to return to Oaxaca, Mexico because of an ear infection which required surgery that cost $21,000. Ceferino is coming home so he can be with his brother, his community, and to continue with his studies.
Rate this article