PASTOR STEVEN FACING IMMEDIATE DEPORTATION : PLEASE CALL CONGRESS TODAY!
PASTOR STEVEN FACING IMMEDIATE DEPORTATION
PLEASE CALL CONGRESS TODAY!
SEPTEMBER 3, 2020
Dear Friends,
The last four days have been terrifying. Last week Pastor Steven had been sent to a number of medical visits to prepare for his eye surgery, which was scheduled for today, September 3, 2020. We were all happy that at least one of his eyes could begin to heal. However, on Monday he was told he was going to be sent Tuesday morning to Louisiana, and promptly deported to Uganda. We of course went into fight mode, notifying both Congress and the United Nations and countless other attorneys and NGOs. On Tuesday he was told he was going to Laredo, but no one would say which facility. He had decided that he would not take an unlawful deportation without a fight, but a large group of ICE agents tackled him and shackled him as they knelt on his back. He is in pain as a result but he stood up for himself. He was then taken to Laredo but not to any ICE facility. He was put on a flight to Louisiana and sent to the Alexandria staging center for deportation set for September 3. We continued to scramble. Yesterday, Wednesday, he was put on a flight to Arizona and he is now at the Florence processing center and is set for deportation either Monday or Tuesday. I suspect he was hustled out of PIDC early in order to cancel his eye surgery planned for today.
Several Congresspersons have been truly wonderful. U.S. Reps. Joaquin Castro, Lloyd Doggett, James McGovern and Filemon Vela are doing everything they can. They are working with U.S. Rep. Bernie Thompson, the Chair of the House Homeland Security Committee. We are all asking that ICE simply hold off deporting him until the Fifth Circuit decides whether or not to order a new trial. Given the evidence there is a strong chance they will.
However, they refused to issue a stay of removal and now the BIA has refused to reopen his case. The Petition for Review at the Fifth Circuit is very much alive, although some ICE officers wrongly stated yesterday that it had been denied.
PLEASE CALL CONGRESS: There are many important offices to call. Voicing thanks to our Champion Representatives named above is always important and they do deserve the thanks big time. Emails or personal notes are also excellent. As 44 Members of Congress already signed the Congressional letter two weeks ago, perhaps it is time to also call some key U.S. Senators.
I recommend these offices, since these are Senators who have already expressed commitment to the human rights of migrants and serve on the corresponding committee. Please express thanks when you call but ask them to take urgent action. If they want documentation, please send me a request at jharbury@gmail.com. and let me know the name and email address of the legislative aid requesting the materials. I will send them promptly.
Senator Cory Booker: 202-224-3224 or 973-639-8700
Senator Patrick Leahy: 202-224-4242 or 802-863-2525
Senator Dianne Feinstein: 202-224-3841 or 415-393-0707
Senator Dick Durbin 202-224-2152 or 312- 353- 4952
