Thread: Rally started in support for Pittsburgh immigrant in process of being deported

Rally scheduled and website started in support for Pittsburgh immigrant in process of being deported

Posted By Ryan Deto on Thu, Jul 7, 2016 at 4:01 PM

After City Paper reported the story of Martin Esquivel-Hernandez, an undocumented immigrant from Mexico with no criminal record who is currently in the process of being deported, CP editor Charlie Deitch called for Pittsburghers to get involved in the fight to keep Esquivel-Hernandez in the Steel City.

And many have responded. On July 8, more than 100 marchers will rally in support of Esquivel-Hernandez and “to oppose the politics of hate and fear,” according to the group’s Facebook page. The supporters are particularly calling out presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and Republican U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, from Pa., for their remarks and actions against undocumented immigrants. (Trump has called Mexican immigrants rapists, and Toomey sponsored a bill to block funding to “sanctuary cities,” or ones that refuse to communicate with the Department of Homeland Security about undocumented immigrants without warrants; the bill was blocked recently by U.S. Senate Democrats.)

In fact, Esquivel-Hernandez was picked up by immigration officers most likely because he had been cited for driving without a valid license in Mount Lebanon, a town without a sanctuary city-like policy. Lt. Duane Fisher, of the Mount Lebanon Police, says the township's general policy is to make contact with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement if police “find someone who is unlicensed” and to see whether ICE has “any reason to see if [the suspect] is wanted.” Fisher says that from there, Mount Lebanon police don’t follow up on the case, and that it becomes ICE’s call. Pittsburgh, while not a sanctuary city, has a policy to not initiate contact with ICE, but will cooperate if contacted.

Immigration will be a main topic at the public march on Friday, which will coincide with the People’s Convention being held Downtown, and begins at 2:30 p.m. at 10th Street and Penn Avenue. For those wishing to provide further support to the Esquivel-Hernandez family, a website has been created (keeptheesquivelfamilytogether.com) where supporters can sign a letter to U.S. District Attorney David Hickton, who is prosecuting the case against Esquivel-Hernandez, that asks Hickton to drop the felony re-entry charges.

The groups rallying around Esquivel-Hernandez include the Pittsburgh chapter of the Labor Council for Latino Advancement, Latino outreach group Casa San José, nonprofit coalition One Pittsburgh, and social-justice-advocacy group the Thomas Merton Center.

A message in support of Esquivel-Hernandez is written on the website: “We sincerely believe Hickton is using this charge to brand Martín as a criminal deserving of jail time and immediate deportation. Martín does not belong in a prison cell. He should be back with his family and the community that loves and needs him the most.”

Esquivel-Hernandez has been in Pittsburgh for more than four years and has been involved in an assessment of Latino needs for Allegheny County; advocated for better translation services in Pittsburgh schools; and marched in immigrant-rights rallies.

The Obama administration has said that it will prosecute undocumented immigrants who threaten public safety, but the advocacy groups claim that Esquivel-Hernandez does not fit into that category given his lack of a criminal record and positive involvement in the community.

Donations can also be given on the website, or people can send a check to Pittsburgh LCLAA with “solidarity with Esquivel family” written on the memo line. Checks can be mailed to:

Pittsburgh LCLAA
United Steelworkers
Attn.: Guillermo Perez
60 Blvd. of the Allies
Pittsburgh, PA. 15222

Rally scheduled and website started in support for Pittsburgh ...

Originally Posted by European Knight

an undocumented immigrant from Mexico with no criminal record who is currently in the process of being deported, CP editor Charlie Deitch called for Pittsburghers to get involved in the fight to keep Esquivel-Hernandez in the Steel City.

"with no criminal record"..?? Are you kidding me? Simply being here illegally is a violation of Federal law. Deport him and all those in support of his release. It is also a violation to knowingly aid or harbor illegals. So even if they are citizens protesting, they should be charged with criminal offense.

Stop the invasion with mass deportation!!

Originally Posted by European Knight

The Obama administration has said that it will prosecute undocumented immigrants who threaten public safety, but the advocacy groups claim that Esquivel-Hernandez does not fit into that category given his lack of a criminal record and positive involvement in the community.

Uh, excuse me? He doesn't have a driver's license. To me, he has no business being on our roads. You know, because
that would be a threat to public safety!!!


-Stop the invasion with mass deportation!! NOW!!

who the mayor of this city & the cop's what gong on get them them the hell out

GO protest in his Country for his rights on HIS soil...not ours!

How many are driving on our roads...killing people...they should not be here! It is a "privilege" to have a Driver's License and drive our roads...not your God given right!

No papers...no entry...no rights...no judge...no lawyer!

Do not reward...deport!

STOP TEARING AMERICAN FAMILIES APART!

Let them march, who really cares what they want, and deport him.

He should be back with his family and the community that loves and needs him the most.”

His community is in his country of mexico. They sneaker in by the millions, sleaze their way into everything, driving a car, getting a job, having babies w/o paying for them.

Because he is here for 4 yrs, they think he has a right to stay. This is pure slippery sleaze - any city that goes the sanctuary root is an aider & abetter in crime. Unfortunately, citizens of those cities have no say about the status

if you are the mayor and O's friend, part of the open borders agenda, then you slap citizens in the face and declare sanctuary status. Does not matter if they are transporting hard drugs or raping women, girls or driving dunk and killing our citizens or taking jobs that belong to our citizens, our youth.

Every single one has many anchor babies on the dole. Citizens are paying for their overbreeding too. They are jackasses & should not be in this country. Nobody gives a damn what they want. We want too - want you out of here.