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Tuesday, July 12, 2011
News Petition: Stop Erick Velazquillo's Deportation
Posted By Rhiannon Fionn-Bowman on Tue, Jul 12, 2011 at 10:38 AM
Erick Velazquillo, a South Mecklenburg High School and CPCC graduate, has been detained for deportation. It's a shitty situation, as you'll find out in the below snip, but you can act on his behalf.
Remember: This is a young man who has lived here his entire life, who was educated here and who wants to give back to his community. He's no hardened criminal, he's simply trapped in the nonsense that is naturalization in the U.S.
He's been in the country since he was 2-years -old. Now, a 22-year-old CPCC graduate is about to be deported for being an illegal immigrant.A grassroots organization is fighting to keep him here. The North Carolina Dream Team is hosting a vigil at St. Peter's Catholic Church in uptown. A simple drive home from the gym may have changed Erick Velazquillo's life forever.
"I was pulled over for having my high beams on," he said.
The traffic stop meant the 22-year-old was also caught with an expired license. He hasn't been able to legally renew it since 2006 because he is an undocumented immigrant.
"I never thought I would be in this kind of situation, " said Velazquillo.
Though his family came to the U.S. when he was just 2-years-old, the graduate of South Mecklenburg High is now facing deportation.
"I lived my life pretty much like a normal American kid so the thought of me being deported never crossed my mind," he said.
The only people he knows back in Mexico are his elderly grandparents.
Read the rest of this MSNBC.com article here.
Now, take action if you're so moved:
Please sign the petition and help us stop Erick’s deportation.PLEASE FORWARD THIS PETITION AND ACTION ALERT TO 5 OF YOUR FRIENDS!
1. Call Senator Hagan (202-224-6342)
Sample Script: "Hi, I was calling to ask that Senator Hagan introduce a private bill for Erick Velazquillo (A# 200-97-0380). Erick has been living in the United States since he was 2 years old. If deported, he will be returned to a country he hasn’t been to in 20 years. Erick wants to contribute to this country as a nutritionist. Please introduce a private bill for Erick."
2. Call DHS – Janet Napolitano (202-282-8495) and ICE – John Morton (202.732.3000)
Sample Script: "Hi, I was calling to ask that Erick Velazquillo's deportation be deferred . Erick (A# 200-97-0380) has been living in the United States since he was 2 years old. If deported, he will be returned to a country he hasn’t been to in 20 years. Erick wants to contribute to this country as a nutritionist. Don’t deport Erick."
3. Sign the petition and ask all of your friends to sign it!
Together we can stop Erick's deportation, please take 5 minutes and complete these 3 easy steps!
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