Matias Ramos is being deported within 14 days, despite Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE's) new policies which make it clear that people in his situation should have their cases dismissed or be at the lowest level of consideration for removal. Would it have something to do with his organizing for the DREAM Act -- a piece of legislation that the President himself has said he supports which would allow young people like Ramos to remain in this country legally? Or has some rogue ICE agent decided to subvert ICE's new policies? Whichever it is this needs to stop.
After years of fighting for the DREAM Act and an opportunity to gain legal status, Matias Ramos was told by immigration authorities to leave the country in less than 14 days. Last week, during his weekly check-in with ICE, Matias was informed he would be placed in an intensive supervision program which requires him to wear a monitoring bracelet around his ankle at all times, and charge it against a wall for three hours a day.
You can sign a petition directed at ICE to stop the deportation.
Martias Ramos is being deported, despite a June 17th ICE memo listing the factors to be considered in individual deportation cases. Let's examine it:
- the person's length of presence in the United States, with particular consideration given to presence while in lawful status. Ramos has been in the United States for 12 years
- the circumstances of the person's arrival in the United States and the manner of his or her entry, particularly if the alien came to the United States as a young child. Ramos arrived at the age of thirteen, presumably not of his own volition
- the person’s pursuit of education in the United States, with particular consideration given to those who have graduated from a U.S. high school or have successfully pursued or are pursuing a college or advanced degrees at a legitimate institution of higher education in the United States. Ramos is a UCLA graduate with a degree in political science; presumably he graduated from high school in the US
- whether the person, or the person’s immediate relative, has served in the U.S. military reserves, or national guard, with particular consideration given to those who served in combat
- the person’s criminal history, including arrests, prior convictions, or outstanding arrest warrants. Ramos has no such history that I can find mentioned. He was arrested by immigration authorities after attending a national gathering of immigrant youth, leading to the deportation order. I don't think that counts...
You can sign a petition to stop the deportation
Here is a statement from Ramos about these recent developments:
I have been wearing electronic shackles around my ankle for over a week. After my check in with ICE, I was shocked to hear that I would be required to wear a monitoring ankle bracelet at all times. Having to plug myself into a wall for three hours a day has robbed me of my humanity, making me a prisoner to an electrical outlet. Then yesterday, I was told I must return to Argentina in less than 14 days.
The Dream Act was defeated last year by a Senate filibuster, where it got fifty-five of the required sixty votes for cloture. In a craven move, a few Democrats voted against the bill to shore up their anti-immigrant cred. How anyone can vote to deport people who arrived in the United States as children and, for many, have known no other life that that in the United States and, for some, have no connection whatsoever to their 'native' land, is beyond be. But they did.
On June 17th, 2011 The Obama administration via ICE issued new policies that made obvious that cases like Ramos' should have the lowest possible priority or be dismissed altogether. Either someone isn't getting the message or the Obama administration is of two minds here.
So let's make sure that we, at least, are of one mind:
You can sign a petition to stop the deportation.