Great News! Dream Leader Manuel Guerra Will Stay in the US, Says Attorney

This week, we were happy to report that the Department of Homeland Security is moving to review and potentially dismiss the cases of hundreds of thousands of immigrants facing deportation who do not pose a security risk. These include Dream Act-eligible youths, relatives of veterans, and other individuals who are currently in the deportation process and who have no prior criminal convictions.

One of the first to celebrate was Manuel Guerra, a young DREAM leader who hopes to one day serve as a priest in the U.S. military. Manuel had started a petition on Change.org that had mustered over 600 signatures in a week, leading up to his September 1st court date. According to his attorney, DHS will now be dropping the deportation order against him, though he will still have to appear in court and file for a work permit (which he is likely to receive). This is simply amazing news that may not have happened without your support!

In fact, Manuel was just profiled in the New York Times as one of the first to benefit from DHS's new policy. He told the Times' Julia Preston that the reprieve “was like something from above, from heaven." Manuel had been fighting a deportation case for five years and faced enormous obstacles along the way.

It's hard to overstate what this news has meant to Manuel. This country, to which Manuel fled when he was only 16 years old, had become so much his home that he stood ready to dedicate his life to its defense. It is his homeland, the place that shaped him, regardless of whether a paper says so. Manuel Guerra is a DREAMer who crossed mountains, eating grass and corn to survive, in order to spend his teenage years washing dishes and landscaping. He persevered, learning English and excelling in school (where he was in the JROTC program), and even received a scholarship to attend college in Miami. His undocumented status made it impossible for him to use that scholarship.

And he also found a home within his church. His pastors saw in him a leader and appointed him to guide and mentor countless immigrant youth. Manuel has traveled through the halls of Congress and more than eight states speaking out on behalf of them. His dream was to become a priest in the United States Army.

But for the past five years, Manuel’s greatest battle has simply been for a chance to stay in this country he loves, to remain in South Florida where he has become a leader in his church and community, and to continue to inspire young people to “stay out of gangs, away from drugs, and continue their education.”

It's obvious that someone like Manuel is an asset to this country, not someone who ICE and DHS should have been dedicating limited resources to rounding up and deporting. We're happy that the administration finally agrees. Manuel's lawyer, who received the good news late last week, says that Manuel will still need to appear in court and apply for an important work permit in the weeks ahead, but he is optimistic that everything will work out for the young leader.

If you haven't already, leave a message for Manuel on his petition of support -- we will be leaving it open until Manuel has his work permit in his hands.

If you've already signed, please spread the word on Facebook.

Photo courtesy of Manuel Guerra