Thread: Reading grad faces deportation (updated)

Reading grad faces deportation
By Mark Curnutte • mcurnutte@enquirer.com • November 22, 2010

Bernard Pastor, 18, could be deported at any moment. He was arrested Wednesday night after a minor auto accident in Springdale.

When he could not produce a driver's license, police asked for his immigration papers. He had none. Police took him to the Butler County Jail, a holding site for federal agents from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This afternoon, Pastor was being transported to the Seneca County Jail in Tiffin, Ohio, a step in what federal officials call the removal process. The next step would be to fly him to a federal deportation camp outside of New Orleans, according to his immigration attorney, Firooz Namei of Cincinnati.

"There is nothing I can do for him," Namei said.

Khaalid Walls, regional spokesman for the ICE office in Detroit, said Monday that Pastor's situation is not uncommon and that he would have a statement later in the day regarding his case.

Pastor has lived in the United States since he was 3, brought here from his native Guatemala by his parents with an older brother and sister to escape religious and military persecution, his lawyer said.

Pastor is the type of young person who could be helped if the DREAM Act were to become law. Introduced as a bi-partisan bill in 2001, the act would provide undocumented students with a six-year window to earn a permanent visa and citizenship. Up to 65,000 undocumented students graduate each year from U.S. high schools.

Among DREAM Act requirements would be high moral character and the ability to earn a two- or four-year degree or serve in the military.

Chuck LaFata, Reading High School principal, described Pastor as a model student. "He was a very good kid academically and a good soccer player," LaFata said. "There was never a problem with discipline." LaFata said Pastor ranked in the top 5 academically in the class of 107 graduates.

Pastor said he loved to sing the "Star-Spangled Banner" before his soccer games at Reading.

"I am an American," the former honor student said during an interview in the Butler County jail. "It's all I know - American school, American history (and) American culture. It was a great honor for me to sing the National Anthem.''

"Where I was born doesn't define me."

Pastor lived with his parents and an older brother and sister. His father is a minister in the Pentecostal Church.

His father worked for the government's agricultural ministry and ran afoul of the military and Catholic Church because of his evangelical efforts as a Pentecostal minister, Namei said.

Bernard Pastor's uncle and family received asylum under the same conditions.

"There is no consistency," Namei said. "This young man's life will be in danger in Guatemala."

Pastor said he speaks little Spanish and knows no family in Guatemala, except for a grandmother whose photograph he has seen.

He said he has no fear because of his faith in God, but those close to him are nervous.

"They could kill him if he returns. This is not a game," Bernard Pastor's father said through a Spanish-speaking interpreter this morning. "This is a big problem for my son.

"If he dies, it should be on the conscious of the people who deported him. God sees all. What they are doing to him is a great injustice."

He was volunteering in his father's church as a youth minister and musician - drums and guitar - at the time of his arrest. His short-term goal was to attend trade school to learn auto mechanics to help his family financially before entering formal ministerial studies.

"I want to be a pastor of a church," he said.

Pastor spoke via phone from the jail three times to his father, who is in hiding with the rest of his family.

He said he has been re-reading his Bible since his arrest.

"My life is in God's hands, where it has always been," said Pastor, dressed in orange clothes. "I am not praying for myself. It is better to pray for other people than oneself. I know I'm here for a purpose, even if I don't know what it is. Not a leaf falls from a tree that God does not know abou
http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dl ... /11230314/

Pastor said he speaks little Spanish

Yeah right, his parents don't speak English so...

Originally Posted by Ratbstard

Pastor said he speaks little Spanish

Yeah right, his parents don't speak English so...

They need to deport the entire family! Obviously the Father isn't afraid to be interviewed for this story, so much for "living in the shadows".

illegals all of the sudden want to be pastors..... I heard from some illegal that they get some religious visa and the church helps them.

Pastor said he loved to sing the "Star-Spangled Banner" before his soccer games at Reading.

"I am an American," the former honor student said during an interview in the Butler County jail. "It's all I know - American school, American history (and) American culture. It was a great honor for me to sing the National Anthem.''

Laying it on a little thick here wouldn't you say! I guess they want to make it sound like an American citizens is being deported, part of the MSM's effort to save every invader from deportation.

"They could kill him if he returns. This is not a game," Bernard Pastor's father said through a Spanish-speaking interpreter this morning. "This is a big problem for my son.

If your son's life is in "danger" then why are you not going back with him!!! I don't see you offering that solution now do I! If this invader's parents had any integrity, they would be volunteering to go back to Guatemala with their son, since his father obviously speaks PERFECT SPANISH! But you don’t see them doing that do you! Shows you what kind of character these people have….which is NONE!

They would sell their own flesh and blood down the river to remain in this country.

Oh....and if the invader's father loves America so much, why doesn't he speak English! He's only been here 15 years!!!

Get the hell out and take your invading family with you!

This is another example of local police being able to inquire of a resident's immigration status and breifly detaining him, to report him to ICE and determine his identity.

Why can't AZ police do this ? even without SB1070 >

[quote="magyart"]This is another example of local police being able to inquire of a resident's immigration status and breifly detaining him, to report him to ICE and determine his identity.

Why can't AZ police do this ? even without SB1070 ?[uote]

P.S. Butler County is participating in the federal govt's Secure Communities Initiative, so his prints were sent to the FBI and ICE.

More info.:
http://www.foxnews.com/on-air/on-the-re ... immigrants

It's amazing how many illegals are going to be killed if they return home and at the same time they have never lived in their home country since they were young children. I guess their home countries have very long memories. The same people they fear probably aren't even in control any longer. My guess is that all 12 million of them have the same story.

Originally Posted by Dansk9

It's amazing how many illegals are going to be killed if they return home and at the same time they have never lived in their home country since they were young children. I guess their home countries have very long memories. The same people they fear probably aren't even in control any longer. My guess is that all 12 million of them have the same story.

LOL...Ditto! Besides, there is no one left to "kill" anyone in Guatemala and that's because they're all here, under the same bogus excuse!

Originally Posted by magyart

This is another example of local police being able to inquire of a resident's immigration status and breifly detaining him, to report him to ICE and determine his identity.

Why can't AZ police do this ? even without SB1070 >

They can