For Immediate Release:
Greensboro, NC – A Vigil for Immigrant Justice organized by FaithAction International House, Center for New North Carolina, Greensboro Immigrant Rights Working Group, Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, and the American Friends Service Committee will take place on May 15, 2012 at 6:30 p.m. at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, 2205 W. Market Street, Greensboro NC advocating for Orfilia Sagastume-Reyes of Thomasville, NC.
Director AFSC’s Immigrant Rights Program Lori Khamala said that Mother’s day reminds us of how important it is for mothers to stay with their children.
“The Reyes family is a part of this community and we cannot let this family be separated,” said Khamala.
Reyes is currently set to be deported on June 7, 2012.
Reyes, the mother of a US citizen honor student, fled political persecution and death threats in Guatemala, coming to the US with her family in October 1990, following the assassination of her brother, Orfilia
In 1993, Orfilia applied for asylum in the US, however, based on the erroneous advice by a previous lawyer, Orfilia and her family withdrew their asylum application, which resulted in an order of deportation.
Since then, Orfilia has been trying to fix her status, without result and has no criminal record. Should ICE re-open her case, she would be eligible for a Green Card.
“This case demonstrates how broken our immigration system is,” said Khamala. “Her son is a US citizen, an honors student and a talented musician and yet the US Government is trying to take her away.”
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