Thread: Rigo Padilla says he'll be allowed to stay in U.S. 1 year

Rigo Padilla, the undocumented student whose fight to stay in the country has ignited a movement on his behalf, says he has been allowed to stay in the United States for one more year.

The apparent reprieve -- which U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement would not immediately confirm -- came less than a week before Padilla, 21, was supposed to leave Dec. 16 for his native Mexico, where he hasn't been since he was 6.

"It's official," Padilla said this morning after his lawyer met with immigration officials in Chicago. He smiled ear-to-ear as he held up a letter from ICE confirming his application for a one-year stay was granted.

"I promise that I'm going to work hard and go to school and graduate from college," he said. "I hope my case can be an example" of the thousands of other undocumented immigrants hoping to stay in the country long enough to potentially win permanent legal status under immigration reform.

Padilla said he was riding the Pink Line subway when his attorney called with the good news.

"From day one, I remained hopeful," he said, adding that he hadn't yet purchased a plane ticket to Mexico.

When friends asked about his plans to settle in the country he hadn't seen since he was six, "my answer was always 'My struggle is to stay.' I wanted to stay."

Padilla, in the midst of finals week at UIC, said he was relieved he can stay but still dealing with stress.

"I have two more papers to turn in," he said. "My teachers are going to kill me if I don't."

Padilla's attorney, Kalman Resnick, said "hopefully, this is an initial step toward a major movement to stop the deportation of undocumented students in the U.S."

Padilla's immigration status was discovered when he was arrested for drinking and driving earlier this year. The decision to stay the deportation of came during a meeting with ICE officials in Chicago today.

The news brought cheers inside the downtown offices of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, where activists who organized rallies and an Internet campaign on Padilla's behalf awaited word of the meeting with ICE.

"This is wonderful," said Joshua Hoyt, executive director for the ICIRR. "Chicago came together in support of Rigo Padilla and the Obama administration heard [the president's] home town."

"Now let's get solutions for the whole nation and not do this on a case-by-case basis," Hoyt added, referring to promises by Obama that federal immigration reforms are a high priority.

While Padilla's plight has been emblematic of the frustrations felt by immigrant advocates hoping to win legalization for millions in the country illegally, his pardon is likely to stir resentment from groups pushing for more aggressive immigration enforcement.

As part of a three-legged platform for immigration reform pushed by the Obama Adminstration, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano promised a hard line against against illegal immigration.

-- Antonio Olivo


john on December 10, 2009 2:47 PM

nice...

"Padilla's immigration status was discovered when he was arrested for drinking and driving earlier this year."
Good on December 10, 2009 2:49 PM

As well he should be. If these people are law-abiding people I don't understand what the problem is. He wants to go to school, he wants to work. He wants to live the American Dream, why not let him? I thought that was the whole point. I'm sick of politics...
Carmen Rangel Vazquez on December 10, 2009 4:30 PM

AND THE STORY GOES ON. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WORKING TO PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE, PAY FOR THEIR TUITION, BOOKS, ETC., LIKE PADILLA WHO ARE TREATED LIKE CRIMINALS FOR WANTING TO LIVE "THE AMERICAN DREAM". NO MATTER WHAT THE STATE OF THE US ECONOMY, THESE PEOPLE COME FROM COUNTRIES THAT ARE IN WORSE STRAITS THAN US. FOR CRYING OUT LOUD! DRUG TRAFFICKERS ARE SHOWN MORE LENIENCY! ILEGAL ALIENS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THE SCAPEGOATS FOR WHATEVER AILS THIS COUNTRY. AND YES, I KNOW, NOT ALL ILEGAL ALIENS ARE NICE PEOPLE, BUT NEITHER ARE ALL US BORN AMERICANS. AND PLUS. PEOPLE FROM MEXICO ARE ALSO NORTH AMERICANS. DID YOU ALL FLUNK GEOGRAPHY?
right decision on December 10, 2009 4:38 PM

what wonderfully hopeful and heartwarming news on a bitter, cold day!
Manny Menendez on December 10, 2009 4:49 PM

No one is above the law in this country.
That's what the "rule of law" means.
Rich G on December 10, 2009 5:14 PM

Nice to know the United States Government is pandering to illegal aliens. They should throw him out of the country immediately. If you broke the law in Mexico I guarantee you'd be in a Mexican prison and not getting a 1 year extension. Break the law and get to stay- It's the democratic way.
The Fud on December 10, 2009 5:16 PM

He wasn't "lawful" you dolt. He was arrested for drinking and driving, or are we going to legalize that too in honor of our new illegal residents?

Also, I'd like to know how he got into U of I in the first place, not having documentation, and who paid for his education?

Why doesn't the Trib report on the illegals who kill people drinking and driving? Those are lives that were truly lost before their time.
Tim on December 10, 2009 5:20 PM

Law Abiding? HELLO! WAKE UP!

He was identified as an illegal after his DUI arrest.
Rosalyn on December 10, 2009 5:24 PM

as well he should be allowed to stay! at 6 years old he didn't choose to be an undocumented citizen. So it's not hsi fault and he shouldn't be forced to live in a place he probably doesn't remember.
Mike H on December 10, 2009 5:30 PM

Don't get on our case for the laws to be enforced.. You dont like, get the law changed. I trust after the year is over and he will leave, right? LOL
manny on December 10, 2009 5:37 PM

nice.....
Kevin M on December 10, 2009 5:37 PM

I've always thought that if someone came here illegally, but was a minor accompanying a illegal immigrant who was an adult, that the former should be granted amnesty if they are now over 18 and the US is the only home they have ever known.
Tom on December 10, 2009 5:44 PM

The problem is he's here ILLEGALLY. He's not suppose to be in our country. That's how you you define a "law abiding" citizen?

This kid has been here illegally all his life, and it takes a DUI arrest for running a red light (glad nobody got KILLED) for the authorities to learn this, because apparently this kid forgot. He was too busy getting by either feeding from the taxpayers trough or passing forged documents to get what he needs. Maybe he was just waiting for the next amnesty from the government.

That's YOUR tax money. You got that much cash to burn how about sending some to me?!?!

Do you have any idea the forms, fees, waiting, and hoops of fire someone has to jump through to play by the rules and come here LEGALLY?

http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009 ... fugee.html

He better enjoy his year because it will be his last....next year there will be no CIR or Dream Act.