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Keep Walter's DREAM Alive: Halt all deporations of DREAMers! |
2444 Signatures |
Published by Felipe Matos on Jun 19, 2009
Category: Human Rights
Region: United States of America
Target: Janet Napolitano, Mel Martinez, Kendrick Meek, and Debbie Wasserman Schultz
Background (Preamble):
We the undersigned are coalescing to support our friend, Walter Lara. Walter came to the United States from Argentina when he was just 3 years old, and almost 20 years later, he is being deported for reasons we are still trying to understand. On February 17, 2009, Walter was with his boss (a DirectTV contractor) about to get on a ferry that would take him to Fisher Island so they could work on some installations.
In ten minutes, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) authorities surrounded the vehicle and bombarded Walter with questions which he innocently responded to. Couple of minutes later, Walter was arrested and sent to a detention center. As of today, he is set to be deported by July 6th to a country he has never known.
Walter has lived in the United States his whole life, completely oblivious to his undocumented status until he tried applying for college. He has never had any problems with the law. All he ever wanted to do was to go to school and have a successful career – but our country’s laws prevented him to continue his education after he graduated from the Honors College at Miami-Dade College. He has even demonstrated the amazing asset he is to our community, by completing 1000 hours of community service just in his high school years. It would be a disservice to both him and to our country’s values to deport him. After all, what crime did Walter commit? Why are we squandering all of his talent?
For more info on how to get involved in this movement contact: SWERwolfson@gmail.com
Important links for everyone to have:
Click to call campaign: http://call.seiu.org/9/walterlara
Co-sign Sen. Nelson's letter to DHS: http://seiu.org/walter
Walter's tweet for click to call campaign: http://twitter.com/WalterLaraUSA/status/2423391889
In ten minutes, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) authorities surrounded the vehicle and bombarded Walter with questions which he innocently responded to. Couple of minutes later, Walter was arrested and sent to a detention center. As of today, he is set to be deported by July 6th to a country he has never known.
Walter has lived in the United States his whole life, completely oblivious to his undocumented status until he tried applying for college. He has never had any problems with the law. All he ever wanted to do was to go to school and have a successful career – but our country’s laws prevented him to continue his education after he graduated from the Honors College at Miami-Dade College. He has even demonstrated the amazing asset he is to our community, by completing 1000 hours of community service just in his high school years. It would be a disservice to both him and to our country’s values to deport him. After all, what crime did Walter commit? Why are we squandering all of his talent?
For more info on how to get involved in this movement contact: SWERwolfson@gmail.com
Important links for everyone to have:
Click to call campaign: http://call.seiu.org/9/walterlara
Co-sign Sen. Nelson's letter to DHS: http://seiu.org/walter
Walter's tweet for click to call campaign: http://twitter.com/WalterLaraUSA/status/2423391889
Petition:
We, as leaders or allies to the grassroots youth movement:
1 UNDERSTAND that Walter’s story is just one of numerous others, and we should not have to save each one of them case by case, because unfortunately, many end up falling through the cracks.
2- RECOGNIZE the urgency in passing a private bill that would allow this American to stay in the only home he’s ever known.
3- WILL PUSH for the enactment of the DREAM Act (H.R.1751 and S.729) now!. It is the key piece of legislation and it is of utmost importance to millions of undocumented students like Walter currently living in the shadows.
4- DEMAND a meeting with the Department of Homeland Security to halt all deportations of those eligible for the DREAM Act. If we continue our ruthless raids and senseless deportations, the DREAM Act will not be able to save those who need it most.
1 UNDERSTAND that Walter’s story is just one of numerous others, and we should not have to save each one of them case by case, because unfortunately, many end up falling through the cracks.
2- RECOGNIZE the urgency in passing a private bill that would allow this American to stay in the only home he’s ever known.
3- WILL PUSH for the enactment of the DREAM Act (H.R.1751 and S.729) now!. It is the key piece of legislation and it is of utmost importance to millions of undocumented students like Walter currently living in the shadows.
4- DEMAND a meeting with the Department of Homeland Security to halt all deportations of those eligible for the DREAM Act. If we continue our ruthless raids and senseless deportations, the DREAM Act will not be able to save those who need it most.
The Keep Walter's DREAM Alive: Halt all deporations of DREAMers! petition to Janet Napolitano, Mel Martinez, Kendrick Meek, and Debbie Wasserman Schultz was written by Felipe Matos and is hosted free of charge at GoPetition.
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