Thread: Malloy Urges U.S. To Defer Deportation Of Student (updated)

Malloy Urges U.S. To Defer Deportation Of College Student

Resident Since A Child, Could Be Sent To Mexico

By MARK SPENCER, pmspencer@courant.com
The Hartford Courant
10:50 a.m. EDT, April 20, 2011
hc-malloy-deport-0421-20110420

HARTFORD ——
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy has written to federal officials urging them to defer deportation of Mariano Cardoso Jr., a 22-year-old undocumented immigrant who has lived almost his entire life in Connecticut and is seeking a degree from Capital Community College.

Immigration officials are seeking to deport Mariano to Mexico. He was picked up by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in 2008 during a chance encounter is just a month away from graduation. He received a letter in February saying his formal appeal had been rejected.

"Congress needs to address immigration reform in a comprehensive and commonsense manner, but until that happens, we cannot allow young men and women like Mariano, who, through no fault of their own, were brought here as children, lose this chance at a better life," Malloy said in a statement Wednesday morning.

"For all intents and purposes, Mariano is American. To send him back to a country he has no recollection of and did not grow up in makes little sense, particularly as he is finishing his degree and looking to contribute to his community and this state."

Cardoso's case has drawn community support. The Trinity College student group Stop the Raids has demonstrated on his behalf, and he has support from teachers and staff at the college. About 650 people have signed a Facebook petition asking that Cardoso be allowed to stay.

Deportation proceedings against Cardoso began in 2008 while he was spending time with his family in his uncle's backyard. Five immigration agents and a New Britain police officer came into the yard, holding a photo of a woman they were looking for who they said was a drug dealer.

The officers wanted to search the house and got annoyed when his uncle refused because they didn't have a warrant, he said. The men and the women were separated and the officers ordered Cardoso, his uncle and cousins onto their knees while they looked over their documents.

Cardoso thought it was all a misunderstanding until he and two relatives were handcuffed and put in a squad car. He ended up in a detention center in Rhode Island for two weeks before his family posted a $5,000 bond to get him out. He finally got a hearing in Hartford immigration court in February 2010, but was ordered deported.

Although illegal immigration is a controversial issue, young people in Cardoso's situation have perhaps attracted the broadest sympathy. The long debated DREAM Act would give them a chance to become legal. In its latest version, the DREAM Act applies to young people who were brought to the U.S. when they were 15 years old or younger, have lived here for at least five years and graduated from an American high school, among other conditions. They would be given "conditional status," allowing them to remain legally in the country.

After 10 years, those who complete two years of college or serve in the armed forces for two years, stay out of trouble and pay back taxes can apply to be legal permanent residents, the first step to citizenship.

Barring immigration reform, Cardoso's only chance is to get a U.S. senator to introduce what's called a private bill, identifying him as someone who should be allowed to stay in the country.

http://www.courant.com/news/connecticut ... 8820.story

Homeland Security Backtracks on Student Deportation

April 26, 2011

Mariano Cardoso can renew his stay every year

By LeAnne Gendreau



When Mariano Cardoso was 22 months old, his family entered the country illegally from Mexico and settled in New Britain.

Twenty two years later, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security was planning to deport him. Until now.

It appears that Citizenship & Immigration Services has had second thoughts and will let Cardoso stay in the United States. The federal department has issued a temporary stay of removal, according to a news release from Sen. Richard Blumenthal.

“This decision is right for Mariano – and right for America – in light of his roots in the community and his future contributions to our society,â€

[quote]“Mariano is a promising young man with a bright future, and DHS’ swift action on this issue ensures that he will be able to continue contributing to his community,â€

Defer deportation Of college students:

The questions still remains unanswered. What happens to family members of illegal alien college students? Their fathers, mothers, sisters and brothers residing in the Country unlawfully? Are they saying it is OK to have them deported, but exempt the students?