Bride-To-Be Faces Tough Decision After Deportation

http://www.local12.com


I just can't let go of what we have. I just can't let him go. I just have to go."

A local woman decides to leave her home and family behind, and follow the man she loves to where he was deported.

When federal agents raided a Fairfield chicken processing plant in August, hundreds of people found their lives turned upside down. 160 detained Koch Foods employees came to this country looking for a better life. The majority of them have since been deported. The raid came two months before one of the detainees was to marry his Cincinnati-born fiance'.

Local 12's Larry Davis says the bride-to-be won't let deportation get in the way.

She's following her heart to be with the man she loves.

"Marriage is a commitment and it's a promise. I need to be with Jose."

Amanda Nichols was looking forward to wearing this dress on Saturday...her wedding day. But this spoiled her plans for a big wedding. Her fiance, Jose Portal, sits outside Koch Foods in Fairfield, one of more than 100 illegal immigrants detained by federal agents. Amanda visited Jose in jail. He wrote her letters.

"te quero.te amor.....vidas (I love you and want to take care of you, respect you and love you for the rest of our lives."

Many of the detainees would later be deported. Jose Portal went back to Peru. When Jose Portal and the other detainees appeared in court, not only was there a language barrier, but a lack of understanding of the U.S. legal system. That lack of understanding cost him a chance to stay in this country. Portal's attorney says his client signed away his rights in paperwork that was inaccurate.

Michael Brandabur, Attorney: "You're whole life has been turned upside down. Your in custody and you're not given the opportunity to think about the consequences and really digest what you're reading."

Amanda Nichols, Following Fiance to Peru: "I feel like this country stands for justice and I'm still waiting to see the justice in our case."

The immigration raid and the time apart made their love stronger. There would be a wedding. Amanda chose to leave her home and follow Jose to Peru, where they will marry.

"It was an easy decision. It's a tough decision to carry out (laugh)."

Amanda says it will be tough leaving her family over the holidays, but she has hope she and Jose can come home again for good and have that church wedding.

"It's still a dream that you have. I just want to wear the dress, nothing else, I keep telling jose, all I want to do is wear my dress thats all."

Larry Davis...Local 12.

Amanda Nichols says she won't be able to bring her wedding dress with her when she moves to Peru next month. She recently bought a shorter, white dress for eight dollars, which she will wear for her wedding December 14th. Under the removal order Jose Portal signed, he will not be allowed to return to the U.S. for ten years. His attorney hopes to win an appeal, allowing him to come back sooner.