Miguel is Expecting a New Baby But Faces Deportation Away from Family

by Rachel LaBruyere · 2011-10-21 13:55:00 UTC
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"When are you coming home?" That's the question that four year old Noah Orellano asks each time he speaks to his father, Miguel, on the phone. Noah hasn't seen his dad since July, when Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers handcuffed and arrested him - all in front of Noah. Each time Noah asks "When are you coming home?", his mom, Jessica Winkler is heartbroken. "He's OK during the day. When it's just me and him, like, that's all he talks about. It's, 'When is daddy coming home?' What are you supposed to say? It's not like we know," says Jessica.

Miguel was brought to the United States when we was only 5 years older than Noah. His family fled widespread violence and poverty in El Salvador. Originally, they were granted Temporary Protected Status - El Salvador was ravaged by a civil war and many of those who sought refuge here were protected under our laws. Miguel grew up in the United States. For most of his life, he was like any other American kid living here. That all changed in July when he was arrested. Now, he sits in jail awaiting deportation while his family tries desperately to keep him in the country he calls home.

Now, the national student network DreamActivist has launched a petition asking that Miguel, who they argue would qualify for the DREAM Act, be released so he can fight his case from home. Not only do Noah and Jessica depend on him at home, but he is expecting a new child with Jessica in the coming months. DreamActivist is determined for Miguel to be home for the birth of his new baby. Under the new guidelines for discretion that the Department of Homeland Security announced this year, they argue that Miguel should be allowed to stay in the country.

As it turns out, Miguel's arrest was due to two previous misdemeanor charges against Miguel. He was caught drinking at 17 and then was caught with marijuana a few years later. His girlfriend Jessica defends Miguel's character, though. "He was raised as a teenage American child," Winkler said. "He [saw] everybody he went to school with do it, why can't he? He has a great son, family, friends – a hard worker. They don't see any of that," Winkler said. "They only see the two things that Miguel ever did wrong." Miguel's supporters argue that two misdemeanor charges because of youthful mistakes do not make Miguel a criminal. In fact, he is a loving father, a hard-worker and a part of his community in Allentown Pennsylvania.

Imagine if you could be deported from the country you call home for making mistakes as a teenager. How many of us would have suffered those consequences? Miguel didn't have a choice when he was brought here as a child and his own children should not suffer because of broken immigration laws.

Sign the petition to release Miguel and stop the deportation of a loving father.

photo courtesy of Dream Activist

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