1

Prosecutorial	
  Discretion	
  Denied
April 2015
©	
  2015	
  	
  

2

Credit	
  and	
  Acknowledgements	
  	
  
Authors:	
  
Carolina	
  Canizales,	
  United	
  We	
  Dream	
  Network	
  
Paromita	
  Shah,	
  National	
  Immigration	
  Project	
  of	
  the	
  National	
  Lawyers	
  Guild
Editors:	
  
Rosa	
  Saavedra-­‐Vanacore,	
  National	
  Immigration	
  Project	
  of	
  the	
  National	
  Lawyers	
  Guild	
  
Contributors:	
  
Julie	
  Mao,	
  New	
  Orleans	
  Workers’	
  Center	
  for	
  Racial	
  Justice	
  
Erika	
  Almirón,	
  Juntos
Mony	
  Ruiz-­‐Velasco
Andrew	
  Free
Maris	
  Liss
Virginia	
  Raymond
Marie	
  Vincent
Beckie	
  Moriello
Nancy	
  Falgout
Alisa	
  Wellek,	
  Immigrant	
  Defense	
  Project
Acknowledgements:	
  We	
  would	
  like	
  to	
  thank	
  the	
  families	
  of	
  individuals	
  highlighted	
  in	
  this	
  
report,	
  as	
  well	
  as	
  the	
  advocates	
  and	
  attorneys	
  helping	
  them	
  fight	
  their	
  deportations.	
  Disclosing	
  
personal	
  information	
  is	
  not	
  easy	
  especially	
  for	
  families	
  that	
  are	
  directly	
  impacted	
  by	
  detention	
  
and	
  deportation.	
  	
  We	
  are	
  grateful	
  for	
  their	
  courage.

Design	
  &	
  Layout:	
  
Jassiel	
  Perez,	
  United	
  We	
  Dream	
  
©	
  2015	
  

	
  

3

Table	
  of	
  Contents	
  
	
  
Credits	
  and	
  Acknowledgements	
  	
  
	
  
About	
  the	
  Organizations	
  	
  
	
  
	
  
Introduction	
  	
   	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
Some	
  Preliminary	
  Observations	
  	
  
Types	
  of	
  Cases	
  	
  
	
  
	
  
Acronyms	
  and	
  Abbreviations	
  	
  	
  
	
  
Cases	
  Samples	
  	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
Cases	
  from	
  news	
  sources	
  
	
  
Conclusion	
  	
   	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  

	
  

	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  

3	
  
5	
  
6	
  	
  
7	
  
7-­‐8	
  
9	
  	
  
10-­‐20,	
  23	
  
21-­‐22	
  
25	
  

	
  

4

About	
  the	
  Organizations	
  
United	
  We	
  Dream	
  Network	
  (UWD)	
  is	
  the	
  largest	
  immigrant	
  youth-­‐led	
  organization	
  in	
  the	
  
nation,	
  a	
  powerful	
  non-­‐partisan	
  network	
  made	
  up	
  of	
  52	
  affiliate	
  organizations	
  in	
  25	
  states.	
  We	
  
organize	
  and	
  advocate	
  for	
  the	
  dignity	
  and	
  fair	
  treatment	
  of	
  immigrant	
  youth	
  and	
  families,	
  
regardless	
  of	
  immigration	
  status.	
  UWD’s	
  current	
  priorities	
  are	
  to	
  stop	
  deportations	
  and	
  
advocate	
  for	
  policy	
  changes	
  that	
  would	
  provide	
  full	
  equality	
  for	
  the	
  immigrant	
  community	
  in	
  
the	
  U.S.	
  In	
  2011,	
  UWD	
  initiated	
  the	
  Education	
  Not	
  Deportation	
  (END)	
  program,	
  which	
  focuses	
  
on	
  organizing	
  and	
  advocating	
  against	
  deportations	
  on	
  a	
  case-­‐by-­‐case	
  basis.	
  The	
  work	
  of	
  this	
  
program	
  has	
  prevented	
  over	
  500	
  deportations	
  nationwide.	
  
The	
  National	
  Immigration	
  Project	
  is	
  a	
  national	
  nonprofit	
  that	
  provides	
  legal	
  assistance	
  and	
  
technical	
  support	
  to	
  immigrant	
  communities,	
  legal	
  practitioners,	
  and	
  advocates	
  working	
  to	
  
advance	
  the	
  rights	
  of	
  non-­‐citizens.	
  We	
  seek	
  to	
  promote	
  justice	
  and	
  equality	
  of	
  treatment	
  in	
  all	
  
areas	
  of	
  immigration	
  law,	
  the	
  criminal	
  justice	
  system,	
  and	
  social	
  policies	
  related	
  to	
  immigration.	
  
For	
  over	
  forty	
  years,	
  the	
  National	
  Immigration	
  Project	
  has	
  served	
  as	
  a	
  progressive	
  source	
  of	
  
advocacy-­‐oriented	
  legal	
  support	
  on	
  issues	
  critical	
  to	
  immigrant	
  rights.	
  The	
  National	
  Immigration	
  
Project	
  works	
  to	
  protect	
  the	
  rights	
  of	
  the	
  most	
  disenfranchised	
  and	
  vulnerable	
  populations,	
  
including	
  women	
  who	
  are	
  victims	
  of	
  domestic	
  violence,	
  people	
  with	
  HIV/AIDS,	
  children,	
  and	
  
non-­‐citizen	
  criminal	
  offenders.	
  We	
  develop	
  cutting-­‐edge	
  strategies	
  to	
  respond	
  to	
  unlawful	
  
enforcement	
  against	
  immigrants.	
  We	
  work	
  both	
  independently	
  and	
  collaboratively	
  with	
  
immigration	
  advocacy	
  organizations	
  throughout	
  the	
  U.S.	
  in	
  order	
  to	
  educate	
  and	
  strengthen	
  
the	
  capacity	
  of	
  immigration	
  professionals	
  while	
  promoting	
  public	
  policy	
  change	
  through	
  direct	
  
advocacy.	
  Our	
  work	
  is	
  built	
  upon	
  a	
  foundation	
  of	
  committed	
  members,	
  whose	
  support	
  and	
  
contributions	
  are	
  integral	
  to	
  the	
  success	
  of	
  the	
  National	
  Immigration	
  Project.	
  	
  

	
  

5

Introduction	
  
On	
  January	
  5,	
  2015,	
  the	
  Department	
  of	
  Homeland	
  Security	
  (DHS)	
  activated	
  a	
  new	
  
memorandum	
  called	
  Policies	
  for	
  the	
  Apprehension,	
  Detention	
  and	
  Removal	
  of	
  Undocumented	
  
Immigrants	
  (Enforcement	
  Memo).	
  	
  This	
  new	
  memorandum	
  replaced	
  select	
  2011	
  prosecutorial	
  
guidance.1	
  The	
  November	
  20th	
  Enforcement	
  memo	
  created	
  three	
  priority	
  categories	
  for	
  
deportation	
  and	
  provides	
  detailed	
  guidance	
  on	
  how	
  DHS	
  agencies	
  and	
  its	
  employees	
  should	
  
exercise	
  prosecutorial	
  discretion	
  for	
  individuals	
  subject	
  to	
  removal	
  or	
  detention.	
  	
  Specifically,	
  
under	
  this	
  memo,	
  DHS	
  will	
  pursue	
  removal	
  of	
  an	
  individual	
  who	
  has	
  engaged	
  in	
  conduct	
  or	
  have	
  
been	
  convicted	
  of	
  crimes	
  identified	
  as	
  a	
  priority,	
  unless	
  mitigating	
  factors	
  or	
  conditions	
  apply,	
  in	
  
which	
  case	
  the	
  person	
  is	
  no	
  longer	
  an	
  enforcement	
  priority	
  at	
  all.	
  
These	
  exception	
  clauses	
  within	
  the	
  priority	
  categories	
  allowed	
  people	
  to	
  make	
  the	
  argument	
  
that	
  they	
  should	
  not	
  be	
  considered	
  an	
  enforcement	
  category	
  because	
  of	
  individual	
  
circumstances	
  or	
  equities.	
  	
  The	
  Enforcement	
  Memo	
  describes	
  some	
  of	
  the	
  factors	
  DHS	
  
personnel	
  should	
  consider:
•
•
•
•
•
•

extenuating	
  circumstances	
  involving	
  the	
  offense	
  of	
  conviction;	
  
extended	
  length	
  of	
  time	
  since	
  the	
  offense	
  of	
  conviction;	
  
length	
  of	
  time	
  in	
  the	
  United	
  States;	
  military	
  service;	
  
family	
  or	
  community	
  ties	
  in	
  the	
  United	
  States;	
  
status	
  as	
  a	
  victim,	
  witness	
  or	
  plaintiff	
  in	
  civil	
  or	
  criminal	
  proceedings;	
  or	
  
compelling	
  humanitarian	
  factors	
  such	
  as	
  poor	
  health,	
  age,	
  pregnancy,	
  a	
  young	
  child,	
  or	
  a	
  
seriously	
  ill	
  relative.	
  

Over	
  the	
  last	
  four	
  months,	
  reports	
  collected	
  by	
  the	
  United	
  We	
  Dream	
  (UWD)	
  and	
  the	
  National	
  
Immigration	
  Project	
  of	
  National	
  Lawyers	
  Guild	
  (NIPNLG)	
  suggest	
  that	
  these	
  factors	
  continue	
  to	
  
be	
  ignored	
  by	
  many	
  local	
  ICE	
  offices.	
  Long	
  time	
  residents,	
  veterans,	
  business	
  owners,	
  
grandparents,	
  parents,	
  people	
  with	
  severe	
  health	
  problems	
  who	
  submitted	
  evidence	
  of	
  their	
  
equities	
  experienced	
  little	
  or	
  no	
  review	
  of	
  their	
  requests	
  for	
  a	
  positive	
  exercise	
  of	
  prosecutorial	
  
discretion.	
  
These	
  complaints	
  are	
  particularly	
  worrisome	
  because	
  DHS	
  assured	
  immigrant	
  communities	
  that	
  
the	
  new	
  Enforcement	
  priorities	
  memo	
  would	
  address	
  the	
  overall	
  failure	
  of	
  previous	
  
prosecutorial	
  discretion	
  enforcement	
  policies	
  issued	
  by	
  former	
  ICE	
  director	
  John	
  Morton	
  in	
  
2011.2	
  	
  Similarly,	
  during	
  that	
  time,	
  advocates	
  complained	
  that	
  ICE	
  did	
  not	
  consider	
  factors	
  such	
  
1

Civil	
  Immigration	
  Enforcement:	
  Priorities	
  for	
  the	
  Apprehension,	
  Detention,	
  and	
  Removal	
  of	
  Aliens,	
  March	
  2,	
  2011;	
  
John	
  Morton,	
  Exercising	
  Prosecutorial	
  Discretion	
  Consistent	
  with	
  the	
  Civil	
  Enforcement	
  Priorities	
  of	
  the	
  Agency	
  for	
  
the	
  Apprehension,	
  Detention	
  and	
  Removal	
  of	
  Aliens,	
  June	
  17,	
  2011;	
  Peter	
  Vincent,	
  Case-­‐by-­‐Case	
  Review	
  of	
  
Incoming	
  and	
  Certain	
  Pending	
  Cases,	
  November	
  17,	
  2011.	
  
2

	
  For	
  a	
  discussion	
  of	
  these	
  policies,	
  see	
  “The	
  Failure	
  of	
  Prosecutorial	
  Discretion	
  and	
  the	
  Deportation	
  of	
  Oscar	
  
Martinez,”	
  by	
  Bill	
  Ong	
  Hing,	
  The	
  Scholar:	
  St.	
  Mary's	
  Law	
  Review	
  on	
  Race	
  and	
  Social	
  Justice,	
  Vol.	
  15,	
  2013;	
  Univ.	
  of	
  
San	
  Francisco	
  Law	
  Research	
  Paper	
  No.	
  2013-­‐10.	
  	
  
	
  

6

as	
  family,	
  education,	
  military	
  service,	
  and	
  other	
  community	
  ties	
  and,	
  that	
  these	
  mitigating	
  
equities	
  very	
  rarely	
  overcame	
  any	
  criminal	
  history	
  or	
  record.	
  

	
  

7

Some	
  preliminary	
  observations	
  
Based	
  on	
  the	
  stories	
  we	
  collected	
  and	
  reviewed,	
  we	
  have	
  seen	
  the	
  following	
  patterns	
  in	
  ICE	
  
reviews	
  of	
  prosecutorial	
  discretion	
  requests:
1. ICE	
  Field	
  Offices	
  treat	
  arrests	
  and	
  convictions	
  as	
  the	
  dispositive	
  factor	
  and	
  give	
  little	
  
weight	
  to	
  or	
  ignore	
  other	
  supporting	
  evidence	
  presented	
  by	
  the	
  attorney	
  or	
  advocate.	
  
This	
  is	
  especially	
  true	
  in	
  requests	
  for	
  an	
  administrative	
  stay	
  of	
  removal.	
  
2. While	
  ICE	
  Field	
  Offices	
  often	
  inform	
  the	
  advocate	
  about	
  the	
  priority	
  category	
  triggering	
  
the	
  enforcement	
  action,	
  they	
  do	
  not	
  apply	
  the	
  correct	
  standard	
  nor	
  the	
  exceptions	
  
clauses	
  to	
  the	
  individual’s	
  case.	
  	
  
3. Prosecutorial	
  discretion	
  requests	
  receive	
  a	
  truncated	
  review,	
  if	
  they	
  are	
  reviewed	
  at	
  all.	
  
The	
  short	
  period	
  of	
  time	
  allotted	
  to	
  the	
  review	
  -­‐	
  sometimes	
  a	
  few	
  hours	
  -­‐	
  strongly	
  
suggests	
  that	
  ICE	
  is	
  not	
  considering	
  evidence	
  in	
  support	
  of	
  the	
  requests	
  for	
  prosecutorial	
  
discretion.	
  One	
  page	
  boilerplate	
  denial	
  letters	
  are	
  common,	
  but	
  in	
  one	
  case,	
  an	
  ICE	
  Field	
  
Office	
  provided	
  a	
  detailed	
  denial	
  letter	
  two	
  weeks	
  after	
  the	
  person	
  was	
  deported.	
  	
  
4. Transfers	
  and	
  removals	
  happen	
  very	
  quickly,	
  sometimes	
  within	
  48	
  hours,	
  making	
  
advocacy	
  efforts	
  extremely	
  difficult	
  and	
  rendering	
  it	
  nearly	
  impossible	
  for	
  family	
  
members	
  to	
  seek	
  legal	
  counsel.	
  	
  

Types	
  of	
  Cases	
  	
  
This	
  report	
  highlights	
  cases	
  from	
  advocates	
  and	
  legal	
  representatives	
  across	
  the	
  country.	
  UWD	
  
collected	
  a	
  total	
  of	
  31	
  cases	
  from	
  a	
  hotline,	
  which	
  was	
  set	
  up	
  after	
  the	
  executive	
  action	
  
announcement	
  last	
  November	
  to	
  gather	
  information	
  about	
  individuals	
  in	
  detention	
  and	
  others	
  
facing	
  deportation.	
  NIPNLG	
  collected	
  22	
  cases	
  from	
  their	
  membership	
  after	
  inquiring	
  about	
  
prosecutorial	
  discretion	
  decisions	
  post	
  November	
  2014.	
  The	
  cases	
  described	
  in	
  this	
  report	
  are	
  
included	
  after	
  obtaining	
  permission	
  from	
  attorneys	
  and	
  families.	
  This	
  report	
  examines	
  three	
  
types	
  of	
  cases:	
  1)	
  individuals	
  who	
  are	
  not	
  priorities	
  under	
  the	
  new	
  memo;	
  2)	
  individuals	
  who	
  
appear	
  to	
  be	
  priorities	
  but	
  qualify	
  for	
  exceptions	
  under	
  the	
  unless	
  clauses;	
  and	
  3)	
  individuals	
  
who	
  are	
  detained	
  because	
  they	
  have	
  not	
  received	
  a	
  fair	
  review	
  by	
  the	
  agency.	
  Some	
  of	
  the	
  
names	
  have	
  been	
  modified	
  for	
  confidentiality	
  purposes.	
  Below	
  is	
  a	
  list	
  of	
  the	
  cases:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Luis	
  Sanchez	
  Ponce,	
  DACA	
  applicant	
  in	
  detention	
  
Pablo	
  Fabian	
  Cardenas,	
  Philadelphia	
  father	
  and	
  business	
  owner	
  	
  	
  
Manuel	
  Roman,	
  DAPA-­‐eligible	
  father	
  of	
  2	
  U.S.	
  citizens	
  
Susana	
  Cabrera	
  Silva,	
  DAPA-­‐eligible	
  grandmother	
  	
  
Leonel	
  Ayala,	
  father	
  and	
  business	
  owner,	
  detained	
  during	
  Operation	
  Cross	
  Check	
  
Sonia	
  Belouniss,	
  Married	
  to	
  U.S.	
  citizen	
  and	
  eligible	
  for	
  adjustment	
  
Arturo	
  Molina,	
  father	
  and	
  reconstruction	
  worker	
  	
  
Ana	
  M.,	
  former	
  legal	
  permanent	
  resident	
  in	
  detention	
  

8

9. Nicoll	
  Hernández-­‐Polanco,	
  transgender	
  women	
  in	
  detention	
  with	
  a	
  passed	
  credible	
  fear	
  
interview	
  	
  
10. Nubia P. Trafficking victim placed in proceedings 	
  
11. Mr.	
  &	
  Mrs.	
  P,	
  couple	
  in	
  Texas	
  where	
  DHS	
  continues	
  to	
  oppose	
  closing	
  case	
  	
  
12. Mr.X,	
  	
  step-­‐father	
  of	
  U.S.	
  citizens	
  in	
  detention	
  with	
  an	
  approved	
  U-­‐visa	
  certification	
  
13. Miguel	
  Angel	
  Aguilar-­‐Aguilar,	
  Deported	
  father,	
  grandfather	
  and	
  construction	
  worker	
  
14. Antonino	
  Santos	
  Candela,	
  father	
  of	
  five	
  minors	
  with	
  moderate	
  to	
  severe	
  medical	
  
conditions	
  
15. Gustavo	
  Gallardo	
  Hernandez,	
  Deported	
  father	
  of	
  two	
  U.S.	
  citizen	
  children	
  	
  

9

Acronyms	
  &	
  Abbreviations	
  	
  
	
  
DACA	
  
DAPA	
  
DUI	
  
DHS	
  
END	
  
HQ	
  	
  
ICE	
  	
  
LPR	
  
NTA	
  
PD	
  
TPS	
  
USCIS	
  	
  
U	
  visa	
  
UWD	
  

	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  

Deferred	
  Action	
  for	
  Childhood	
  Arrivals	
  
Deferred	
  Action	
  for	
  Parents	
  of	
  Americans	
  and	
  Lawful	
  Permanent	
  Residents
Driving	
  Under	
  the	
  Influence	
  
Department	
  of	
  Homeland	
  Security	
  
Education	
  Not	
  Deportation	
  
Headquarters
Immigration	
  and	
  Customs	
  Enforcement	
  
Legal	
  Permanent	
  Resident	
  
Notice	
  to	
  Appear
Prosecutorial	
  Discretion
Temporary	
  Protected	
  Status
United	
  States	
  Citizenship	
  and	
  Immigration	
  Services	
  
Victims	
  of	
  Criminal	
  Activity	
  Visa
United	
  We	
  Dream	
  	
  

10

Susana	
  Cabrera	
  Silva,	
  (Texas)	
  
Grandmother	
  and	
  mother	
  to	
  two	
  U.S.	
  citizens	
  
A	
  grandmother	
  and	
  mother	
  to	
  two	
  U.S.	
  citizens,	
  Mrs.	
  Silva	
  also	
  has	
  a	
  daughter	
  who	
  is	
  in	
  college	
  
and	
  was	
  granted	
  DACA.	
  Susana	
  has	
  lived	
  in	
  the	
  United	
  States	
  since	
  1991	
  and	
  cares	
  for	
  her	
  
young	
  U.S.	
  citizen	
  grandchild	
  with	
  special	
  needs.	
  Her	
  son-­‐in-­‐law	
  who	
  is	
  a	
  U.S.	
  citizen	
  is	
  
petitioning	
  for	
  her	
  daughter.	
  
	
  
In	
  2005,	
  Mrs.	
  Silva	
  received	
  
community	
  supervision	
  deferred	
  
adjudication	
  for	
  a	
  felony	
  theft	
  
charge	
  for	
  stealing	
  clothes	
  from	
  a	
  
department	
  store.	
  	
  This	
  
disposition	
  does	
  not	
  count	
  as	
  a	
  
conviction	
  under	
  Texas	
  state	
  law.	
  	
  
This	
  is	
  her	
  only	
  record.	
  
Her	
  stay	
  of	
  removal	
  request,	
  
renewed	
  in	
  January	
  2015,	
  was	
  202	
  
pages	
  long.	
  She	
  submitted	
  twenty	
  
letters	
  of	
  support	
  from	
  her	
  
community	
  and	
  co-­‐workers,	
  tax	
  
documents,	
  and	
  an	
  evaluation	
  for	
  
recidivism,	
  which	
  found	
  her	
  to	
  be	
  
very	
  low	
  risk.	
  She	
  also	
  submitted	
  
evidence	
  of	
  her	
  active	
  
involvement	
  in	
  St.	
  Ann	
  Catholic	
  Parish	
  in	
  Coppel,	
  Texas.	
  In	
  February	
  2015,	
  ICE	
  notified	
  Mrs.	
  Silva	
  
her	
  stay	
  request	
  was	
  denied	
  and	
  that	
  she	
  must	
  depart	
  the	
  United	
  States	
  on	
  March	
  19,	
  2015.	
  
	
  
Mrs.	
  Silva	
  has	
  been	
  public	
  about	
  her	
  predicament	
  and	
  that	
  she	
  could	
  be	
  considered	
  a	
  priority	
  
under	
  the	
  new	
  DHS	
  memo.	
  She	
  spoke	
  with	
  Al	
  Jazeera	
  on	
  November	
  20,	
  2014	
  in	
  response	
  to	
  the	
  
President’s	
  announcement.	
  She	
  was	
  previously	
  granted	
  a	
  stay	
  of	
  removal	
  from	
  ICE	
  in	
  2014.	
  The	
  
only	
  change	
  in	
  her	
  circumstances	
  had	
  to	
  do	
  with	
  a	
  removal	
  order	
  that	
  became	
  administratively	
  
final	
  when	
  she	
  received	
  a	
  decision	
  from	
  the	
  Board	
  of	
  Immigration	
  Appeals.	
  ICE’s	
  February	
  2015	
  
denial	
  letter	
  did	
  not	
  refer	
  to	
  a	
  single	
  piece	
  of	
  evidence	
  submitted	
  by	
  her	
  attorney.	
  On	
  March	
  18,	
  
2015,	
  the	
  local	
  ICE	
  office	
  informed	
  Susana	
  her	
  stay	
  had	
  been	
  reconsidered	
  and	
  granted.	
  	
  

	
  
	
  
	
  
11

Nuvia	
  P.,	
  (Illinois)	
  	
  
Trafficking	
  victim	
  placed	
  in	
  proceedings	
  	
  
	
  
	
  

	
  

Nuvia	
  was	
  apprehended	
  June	
  15,	
  2013	
  at	
  a	
  checkpoint	
  near	
  the	
  border.	
  	
  Although	
  she	
  
has	
  lived	
  in	
  the	
  US	
  since	
  1995,	
  she	
  left	
  for	
  Guatemala	
  for	
  approximately	
  18	
  months.	
  She	
  
has	
  two	
  U.S.	
  citizen	
  daughters	
  who	
  are	
  18	
  and	
  11,	
  as	
  well	
  as	
  2	
  other	
  children	
  who	
  are	
  
DACA	
  eligible.	
  Nuvia	
  has	
  no	
  arrests	
  or	
  criminal	
  convictions.	
  She	
  was	
  sexually	
  assaulted	
  
and	
  subjected	
  to	
  forced	
  labor	
  and	
  qualifies	
  for	
  a	
  U	
  visa.	
  In	
  July	
  2013,	
  she	
  was	
  issued	
  an	
  
NTA	
  and	
  was	
  asked	
  to	
  report	
  to	
  ICE	
  periodically.	
  She	
  complied	
  with	
  all	
  requests	
  from	
  
ICE.	
  This	
  year,	
  at	
  her	
  last	
  check-­‐in,	
  she	
  was	
  advised	
  that	
  the	
  Notice	
  to	
  Appear	
  was	
  filed	
  
with	
  the	
  Court.	
  The	
  attorney	
  does	
  not	
  know	
  why	
  ICE	
  elected	
  to	
  initiate	
  removal	
  
proceedings	
  against	
  her	
  at	
  this	
  time,	
  especially	
  since	
  she	
  is	
  not	
  a	
  priority	
  under	
  any	
  of	
  
the	
  categories	
  of	
  the	
  memo.

“Local	
  DHS	
  offices	
  do	
  not	
  feel	
  bound	
  by	
  national	
  policy.	
  DHS	
  is	
  not	
  exercising	
  
favorable	
  discretion	
  on	
  cases	
  that	
  are	
  clearly	
  outside	
  of	
  their	
  priorities.	
  Families	
  are	
  
being	
  separated	
  everyday	
  and	
  these	
  cases	
  are	
  only	
  the	
  tip	
  of	
  the	
  iceberg	
  given	
  that	
  
the	
  majority	
  of	
  people	
  do	
  not	
  have	
  legal	
  representation.”	
  Mony	
  Ruiz-­‐Velasco,	
  Mrs.	
  
Nuvia’s	
  attorney

12

Luis	
  Sanchez	
  Ponce,	
  (Tennessee)
24-­‐year-­‐old	
  father	
  and	
  DACA	
  applicant	
  in	
  detention

“They ignored those guidelines in October 2014; and they continue to ignore them
nearly 6 months later. Instead, the government has adopted shifting and increasingly
indefensible interpretations of its own policies in a transparent attempt to cover up
the fact that its officers failed to exercise discretion in accordance with their binding
policy memos.” Andrew Free, Mr. Sanchez-Ponce’s attorney

	
  
Luis	
  is	
  a	
  24-­‐year-­‐old	
  DACA	
  applicant	
  and	
  father	
  of	
  a	
  7-­‐year-­‐old	
  US	
  citizen	
  daughter,	
  Ileana.	
  	
  A	
  
construction	
  worker	
  from	
  Tennessee,	
  he	
  and	
  his	
  family	
  have	
  lived	
  in	
  the	
  state	
  since	
  2000.	
  	
  He	
  
graduated	
  from	
  Heritage	
  High	
  School	
  in	
  Maryville,	
  Tennessee.	
  Luis	
  has	
  supported	
  his	
  mother	
  
and	
  his	
  brother	
  Omar	
  in	
  his	
  efforts	
  to	
  obtain	
  a	
  college	
  education.	
  In	
  2013,	
  he	
  was	
  convicted	
  for	
  
misdemeanors	
  simple	
  possession	
  of	
  marijuana	
  and	
  paraphernalia	
  possession	
  (a	
  bong).	
  Luis	
  
complied	
  with	
  the	
  terms	
  of	
  his	
  sentence.	
  His	
  one	
  violation,	
  which	
  was	
  later	
  resolved,	
  involved	
  
traveling	
  out	
  of	
  state	
  for	
  a	
  job.	
  For	
  the	
  last	
  six	
  months,	
  Luis	
  has	
  been	
  detained	
  by	
  ICE.	
  As	
  a	
  
result,	
  he	
  has	
  missed	
  all	
  his	
  biometric	
  requests	
  required	
  for	
  his	
  DACA	
  application.	
  	
  ICE	
  continues	
  
to	
  deny	
  all	
  requests	
  by	
  his	
  attorney	
  to	
  release	
  him	
  or	
  administratively	
  close	
  his	
  case.	
  
	
  

	
  

13

Pablo	
  Fabian	
  Cardenas,	
  (Pennsylvania	
  and	
  Louisiana)
Philadelphia	
  father	
  and	
  business	
  owner	
  	
  
Mr.	
  Cardenas	
  is	
  a	
  beloved	
  father	
  and	
  member	
  of	
  his	
  community	
  in	
  South	
  Philadelphia.	
  He	
  was	
  
arrested	
  during	
  Operation	
  Cross	
  Check	
  on	
  the	
  basis	
  of	
  a	
  2009	
  DUI	
  conviction.	
  He	
  had	
  not	
  had	
  
any	
  other	
  interaction	
  with	
  the	
  law	
  since	
  2009.	
  	
  After	
  his	
  arrest,	
  ICE	
  transferred	
  him	
  to	
  Jena,	
  
Louisiana	
  -­‐	
  hundreds	
  of	
  miles	
  from	
  his	
  family,	
  community,	
  and	
  attorney.	
  
	
  
Mr.	
  Cardenas	
  had	
  lived	
  in	
  the	
  United	
  States	
  since	
  2000.	
  	
  He	
  and	
  his	
  wife	
  have	
  two	
  US	
  citizen	
  
children,	
  ages	
  9	
  and	
  1,	
  who	
  lived	
  with	
  him.	
  	
  He	
  was	
  a	
  local	
  business	
  owner	
  of	
  an	
  auto	
  repair	
  
shop	
  with	
  his	
  US	
  citizen	
  brother.	
  	
  His	
  auto	
  repair	
  business	
  made	
  him	
  the	
  sole	
  financial	
  provider	
  
for	
  his	
  family.	
  	
  Mr.	
  Cardenas	
  received	
  a	
  removal	
  order	
  in	
  2014.	
  On	
  March	
  19,	
  his	
  attorney	
  filed	
  a	
  
60-­‐page	
  stay	
  of	
  removal.	
  Within	
  hours,	
  the	
  officer	
  informed	
  the	
  attorney	
  that	
  the	
  stay	
  was	
  
denied.	
  He	
  was	
  deported	
  on	
  March	
  20,	
  2015.	
  	
  On	
  April	
  6,	
  2015,	
  ICE	
  sent	
  a	
  letter	
  to	
  the	
  attorney	
  
detailing	
  the	
  reasons	
  for	
  his	
  deportation	
  and	
  cited	
  to	
  standards	
  not	
  referenced	
  in	
  the	
  
Enforcement	
  memo.	
  

	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  

“My	
  attorney	
  filed	
  my	
  husband’s	
  stay	
  of	
  
removal	
  on	
  March	
  19,	
  2015.	
  He	
  sent	
  a	
  60-­‐page	
  
stay	
  of	
  removal	
  and	
  he	
  received	
  a	
  phone	
  call	
  
within	
  two	
  hours	
  from	
  ICE	
  Officer	
  saying	
  that	
  
my	
  husband	
  was	
  a	
  threat	
  to	
  public	
  safety	
  and	
  
that	
  he	
  will	
  be	
  deported.	
  I	
  don’t	
  understand	
  
how	
  someone’s	
  life	
  can	
  be	
  decided	
  in	
  just	
  a	
  few	
  
hours.	
  It	
  is	
  not	
  fair	
  to	
  my	
  family.”	
  

	
  

	
  

14

Manuel	
  Roman,	
  (Illinois)	
  
Father	
  of	
  2	
  young	
  U.S.	
  citizens	
  and	
  construction	
  supervisor
Mr.	
  Roman	
  came	
  to	
  the	
  United	
  States	
  in	
  1999	
  when	
  he	
  was	
  16	
  years	
  old.	
  Before	
  he	
  was	
  
detained	
  three	
  months	
  ago,	
  he	
  lived	
  with	
  his	
  partner,	
  Martha	
  Avila	
  and	
  his	
  2	
  young	
  U.S.	
  citizen	
  
children,	
  ages	
  4	
  months	
  and	
  4	
  years.	
  Mr.	
  Roman	
  was	
  a	
  home	
  improvement	
  supervisor	
  for	
  
Roman	
  construction,	
  where	
  he	
  supervised	
  four	
  employees	
  in	
  their	
  completion	
  of	
  home	
  
projects.	
  One	
  reason	
  ICE	
  denied	
  the	
  request	
  to	
  release	
  Mr.	
  Roman	
  from	
  detention	
  was	
  that	
  
they	
  refused	
  to	
  believe	
  he	
  was	
  the	
  father	
  of	
  his	
  children	
  despite	
  information	
  provided	
  by	
  the	
  
mother,	
  Head	
  Start	
  school	
  records,	
  and	
  medical	
  records.	
  	
  Counsel	
  felt	
  compelled	
  to	
  initiate	
  a	
  
paternity	
  claim	
  to	
  resolve	
  this	
  issue.	
  	
  Since	
  his	
  detention,	
  his	
  wife	
  was	
  forced	
  to	
  seek	
  mental	
  
health	
  services	
  for	
  her	
  four-­‐year-­‐old	
  daughter,	
  who	
  is	
  desperately	
  missing	
  her	
  father.	
  In	
  2006,	
  
Mr.	
  Roman	
  was	
  convicted	
  of	
  misdemeanor	
  possession	
  of	
  cocaine	
  and	
  has	
  another	
  drug	
  
possession	
  charge	
  pending.	
  	
  Criminal	
  defense	
  counsel	
  recently	
  informed	
  his	
  immigration	
  
attorney	
  that	
  a	
  plea	
  deal	
  regarding	
  his	
  pending	
  drug	
  possession	
  matter	
  will	
  result	
  in	
  a	
  
misdemeanor	
  conviction,	
  likely	
  with	
  little	
  or	
  no	
  jail	
  time.	
  	
  None	
  of	
  these	
  convictions	
  trigger	
  or	
  
will	
  trigger	
  the	
  enforcement	
  priorities.	
  	
  A	
  prosecutorial	
  discretion	
  request	
  filed	
  on	
  February	
  11,	
  
2015	
  was	
  denied.	
  Mr.	
  Roman	
  would	
  have	
  been	
  eligible	
  for	
  DAPA.
	
  
	
  
	
  

	
  

15

Mr.	
  Arturo	
  Molina,	
  	
  (Louisiana)
Father	
  and	
  reconstruction	
  worker	
  	
  
Mr.	
  Arturo	
  Molina	
  has	
  deep	
  family	
  and	
  
community	
  ties	
  in	
  New	
  Orleans.	
  He	
  has	
  lived	
  in	
  
the	
  U.S.	
  for	
  over	
  23	
  years,	
  arriving	
  in	
  1991	
  as	
  a	
  
minor	
  escaping	
  the	
  brutal	
  war	
  in	
  El	
  Salvador	
  and	
  
reuniting	
  with	
  his	
  late	
  mother	
  who	
  was	
  legal	
  
permanent	
  resident.
	
  
Mr.	
  Molina’s	
  deportation	
  would	
  devastate	
  his	
  
family.	
  Mr.	
  Molina	
  is	
  the	
  father	
  of	
  three	
  US	
  
citizen	
  children,	
  two	
  of	
  whom—Justin	
  (age	
  6)	
  
and	
  Kayle	
  (age	
  4)—rely	
  on	
  him	
  as	
  their	
  primary	
  
financial	
  and	
  emotional	
  support.	
  Moreover,	
  his	
  
son	
  Justin	
  has	
  a	
  learning	
  disability	
  and	
  Mr.	
  
Molina	
  is	
  solely	
  responsible	
  for	
  his	
  young	
  son’s	
  
medical	
  care.	
  Mr.	
  Molina	
  is	
  also	
  a	
  
reconstruction	
  worker	
  and	
  member	
  of	
  the	
  New	
  
Orleans-­‐based	
  civil	
  rights	
  organization,	
  the	
  
Congress	
  of	
  Day	
  Laborers.
	
  
In	
  January	
  2015,	
  Mr.	
  Molina	
  was	
  stopped	
  after	
  leaving	
  a	
  Latino	
  restaurant	
  in	
  Houma,	
  a	
  rural	
  
town	
  in	
  Louisiana.	
  He	
  was	
  arrested	
  and	
  charged	
  with	
  a	
  DUI.	
  The	
  City	
  of	
  Houma,	
  as	
  a	
  matter	
  of	
  
policy,	
  does	
  not	
  provide	
  indigent	
  individuals	
  charged	
  with	
  municipal	
  traffic	
  offenses,	
  including	
  
DUI	
  charges,	
  with	
  a	
  public	
  defender.	
  Nor	
  does	
  the	
  court	
  provide	
  translation	
  services	
  to	
  limited	
  
English	
  speakers.	
  In	
  late	
  February	
  2015,	
  Mr.	
  Molina,	
  still	
  detained,	
  was	
  brought	
  before	
  the	
  
court.	
  Without	
  counsel	
  or	
  a	
  full	
  understanding	
  of	
  the	
  proceedings,	
  he	
  was	
  ferried	
  through	
  the	
  
system	
  and	
  urged	
  by	
  the	
  judge	
  to	
  take	
  a	
  guilty	
  plea	
  even	
  though	
  he	
  told	
  the	
  court	
  that	
  he	
  did	
  
not	
  understand	
  enough	
  English	
  and	
  legal	
  terminology	
  to	
  represent	
  himself.	
  Mr.	
  Molina	
  was	
  
held	
  on	
  an	
  ICE	
  hold	
  for	
  an	
  additional	
  4	
  days	
  until	
  he	
  was	
  transferred	
  to	
  ICE	
  custody.	
  	
  
	
  
Mr.	
  Molina	
  retained	
  counsel	
  who	
  filed	
  a	
  motion	
  to	
  vacate	
  his	
  DUI	
  conviction	
  and	
  reset	
  his	
  case	
  
for	
  trial	
  based	
  on	
  violation	
  of	
  his	
  constitutional	
  rights.	
  A	
  hearing	
  is	
  pending.	
  	
  Moreover,	
  Mr.	
  
Molina	
  has	
  an	
  in	
  absentia	
  order	
  from	
  2012	
  due	
  to	
  ineffective	
  assistance	
  of	
  counsel,	
  and	
  he	
  has	
  
also	
  retained	
  counsel	
  that	
  is	
  seeking	
  to	
  reopen	
  his	
  order	
  so	
  he	
  can	
  apply	
  for	
  available	
  relief.
	
  
Despite	
  Mr.	
  Molina’s	
  efforts	
  to	
  pursue	
  his	
  due	
  process	
  and	
  protect	
  his	
  constitutional	
  rights,	
  ICE	
  
continues	
  to	
  seek	
  his	
  deportation	
  and	
  deny	
  him	
  the	
  ability	
  to	
  reunite	
  with	
  his	
  family	
  and	
  
community.	
  
16

Mr.	
  and	
  Mrs.	
  P,	
  (Texas)	
  
Married	
  couple	
  and	
  parents	
  of	
  U.S.	
  citizens	
  in	
  removal	
  proceedings	
  	
  
This	
  couple	
  has	
  resided	
  here	
  for	
  three	
  decades	
  and	
  are	
  the	
  parents	
  of	
  three	
  United	
  States	
  
citizen	
  sons,	
  ages	
  17,	
  24	
  and	
  25.	
  One	
  of	
  the	
  adult	
  sons	
  is	
  in	
  college	
  and	
  working	
  and	
  the	
  
other	
  is	
  working.	
  	
  The	
  youngest	
  is	
  a	
  junior	
  in	
  high	
  school,	
  is	
  in	
  a	
  special	
  program	
  to	
  prepare	
  
high	
  school	
  students	
  for	
  college,	
  and	
  is	
  a	
  star	
  on	
  his	
  high	
  school	
  football	
  team.	
  The	
  
husband	
  has	
  a	
  business	
  cutting	
  lawns	
  and	
  his	
  wife	
  is	
  a	
  homemaker.	
  	
  The	
  husband	
  has	
  a	
  
lawful	
  permanent	
  resident	
  brother	
  who	
  has	
  end-­‐stage	
  renal	
  disease	
  that	
  lives	
  with	
  them	
  
and	
  is	
  partially	
  supported	
  by	
  them.	
  	
  They	
  pay	
  their	
  taxes	
  and	
  are	
  buying	
  their	
  home.	
  They	
  
are	
  devout	
  church	
  members.	
  	
  
	
  
In	
  1985	
  at	
  the	
  age	
  of	
  18,	
  Mr.	
  Perez	
  was	
  arrested	
  for	
  DWI	
  and	
  was	
  given	
  a	
  sentence	
  of	
  9	
  
days	
  in	
  jail.	
  	
  He	
  has	
  no	
  other	
  criminal	
  record.	
  Another	
  basis	
  for	
  the	
  denial	
  is	
  multiple	
  
entries	
  into	
  the	
  United	
  States.	
  	
  

	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  

Miguel	
  Angel	
  Aguilar-­‐Aguilar,	
  (Michigan)	
  
Deported	
  father,	
  grandfather,	
  long	
  time	
  resident	
  and	
  construction	
  worker
	
  
Mr.	
  Aguilar-­‐Aguilar	
  has	
  resided	
  in	
  the	
  United	
  States	
  since	
  1997	
  with	
  his	
  wife	
  and	
  four	
  U.S.	
  
citizen	
  children.	
  All	
  of	
  his	
  children	
  had	
  been	
  granted	
  DACA.	
  He	
  worked	
  at	
  a	
  construction	
  
company,	
  paid	
  taxes	
  and	
  owns	
  his	
  own	
  home.	
  	
  His	
  son,	
  who	
  was	
  granted	
  DACA,	
  was	
  
diagnosed	
  with	
  chronic	
  renal	
  failure	
  and	
  faced	
  medical	
  problems	
  related	
  to	
  the	
  rejection	
  of	
  
a	
  transplanted	
  kidney.	
  All	
  his	
  children	
  and	
  his	
  wife	
  lived	
  with	
  him.	
  Mr.	
  Aguilar-­‐Aguilar	
  paid	
  
for	
  all	
  medical	
  expenses	
  related	
  to	
  his	
  son’s	
  chronic	
  condition.	
  His	
  deportation	
  has	
  
devastated	
  this	
  family,	
  who	
  had	
  just	
  moved	
  out	
  of	
  a	
  trailer	
  park	
  into	
  a	
  new	
  home.	
  	
  In	
  a	
  
motion,	
  DHS	
  designated	
  him	
  an	
  enforcement	
  priority	
  without	
  specifying	
  the	
  basis.	
  The	
  
attorney	
  appealed	
  the	
  denial	
  of	
  a	
  withholding	
  of	
  removal	
  case	
  to	
  the	
  6th	
  Circuit	
  Courts	
  of	
  
Appeal.	
  	
  He	
  also	
  testified	
  that	
  in	
  the	
  1990s,	
  he	
  was	
  arrested	
  for	
  being	
  drunk	
  in	
  a	
  parked	
  
car.	
  	
  There	
  is	
  no	
  record	
  of	
  a	
  conviction	
  or	
  arrest,	
  but	
  he	
  said	
  he	
  was	
  in	
  the	
  police	
  station	
  
overnight.	
  ICE	
  again	
  called	
  Mr.	
  Aguilar-­‐Aguilar	
  while	
  he	
  was	
  in	
  detention	
  to	
  confirm	
  the	
  
drunkenness	
  incident.	
  He	
  was	
  deported	
  on	
  January	
  8,	
  2015.	
  
Despite	
  the	
  attorney’s	
  multiple	
  attempts	
  to	
  obtain	
  the	
  government’s	
  agreement	
  to	
  close	
  
the	
  case	
  or	
  stay	
  the	
  removal,	
  ICE	
  refused.	
  

17

Leonel	
  Ayala,	
  (Georgia)	
  
Father	
  and	
  business	
  owner,	
  detained	
  during	
  Operation	
  Cross	
  Check	
  	
  

Magali	
  Ayala,	
  a	
  United	
  We	
  Dream	
  leader	
  and	
  DACA	
  recipient,	
  reported	
  that	
  her	
  father	
  was	
  
arrested	
  at	
  their	
  home	
  in	
  the	
  early	
  morning	
  of	
  March	
  2,	
  2015	
  as	
  a	
  result	
  of	
  Operation	
  Cross	
  
Check.	
  	
  Mr.	
  Ayala	
  and	
  his	
  family	
  have	
  been	
  living	
  in	
  the	
  US	
  for	
  fifteen	
  years,	
  and	
  he	
  has	
  paid	
  
taxes	
  promptly	
  all	
  of	
  this	
  time.	
  He	
  raised	
  Magali	
  and	
  his	
  12-­‐year-­‐old	
  U.S.	
  citizen	
  daughter	
  with	
  
the	
  values	
  of	
  education	
  and	
  hard	
  work.	
  In	
  addition,	
  he	
  tried	
  to	
  fix	
  his	
  status	
  and	
  has	
  a	
  pending	
  I-­‐
130	
  petition	
  by	
  his	
  U.S.	
  citizen	
  brother.	
  His	
  body	
  shop,	
  Fast	
  Car,	
  is	
  now	
  a	
  successful	
  business.	
  He	
  
is	
  an	
  active	
  parishioner	
  at	
  St.	
  George	
  Catholic	
  Church,	
  and	
  has	
  received	
  close	
  to	
  3,000	
  
signatures	
  on	
  UWD’s	
  online	
  petition.	
  Mr.	
  Ayala	
  has	
  a	
  DUI-­‐related	
  charge	
  from	
  California	
  in	
  2000	
  
and	
  was	
  completing	
  his	
  sentence	
  for	
  a	
  DUI	
  charge	
  he	
  incurred	
  in	
  2014.	
  	
  
	
  	
  
“On	
  March	
  2,	
  2015,	
  five	
  uniformed	
  men	
  claiming	
  to	
  be	
  
probation	
  officers	
  raided	
  my	
  house	
  at	
  6	
  a.m.	
  They	
  said	
  
they	
  were	
  here	
  to	
  perform	
  a	
  “random”	
  drug	
  test	
  on	
  my	
  
father.	
  I	
  asked	
  to	
  see	
  a	
  warrant	
  and	
  they	
  refused	
  to	
  
provide	
  one	
  and	
  proceeded	
  to	
  enter	
  my	
  father’s	
  room,	
  
wake	
  him	
  up	
  and	
  told	
  him	
  to	
  get	
  dressed.	
  Not	
  only	
  did	
  
they	
  violate	
  our	
  rights	
  by	
  entering	
  our	
  home	
  without	
  a	
  
search	
  warrant,	
  they	
  also	
  lied	
  about	
  who	
  they	
  were.”	
  
Magali	
  Ayala,	
  Leonel’s	
  daughter	
  	
  
	
  

18

Antonino	
  Santos	
  Candela,	
  (North	
  Carolina)	
  	
  
Father	
  of	
  five	
  children	
  with	
  severe	
  medical	
  conditions	
  
	
  

	
  	
  
Mr.	
  Candela	
  is	
  a	
  father	
  to	
  four	
  U.S.	
  citizen	
  and	
  two	
  DACA	
  eligible	
  children.	
  He	
  has	
  lived	
  in	
  North	
  
Carolina	
  for	
  nine	
  years.	
  Five	
  of	
  his	
  kids	
  have	
  serious	
  health	
  problems,	
  and	
  Mr.	
  Candela	
  is	
  the	
  
main	
  financial	
  provider	
  for	
  his	
  children	
  and	
  their	
  medical	
  care.	
  Reina,	
  an	
  18-­‐year-­‐old	
  DACA	
  
recipient	
  who	
  has	
  epilepsy	
  is	
  only	
  4’8’’	
  in	
  height	
  and	
  suffers	
  from	
  abnormal	
  brain	
  and	
  nervous	
  
system	
  development.	
  His	
  10-­‐year-­‐old	
  daughter	
  has	
  a	
  congenital	
  heart	
  anomaly	
  and	
  is	
  unable	
  to	
  
dorsiflex	
  her	
  hand	
  or	
  fully	
  extend	
  her	
  fingers.	
  His	
  5-­‐year-­‐old	
  son	
  has	
  cerebral	
  palsy,	
  paralysis	
  on	
  
one	
  side	
  of	
  his	
  body,	
  and	
  contracture	
  of	
  ankle	
  and	
  foot	
  joint	
  that	
  necessitates	
  the	
  wearing	
  of	
  a	
  
foot	
  brace.	
  His	
  13-­‐year-­‐old	
  son	
  and	
  12-­‐year-­‐old	
  daughter	
  both	
  have	
  asthma.	
  
Mr.	
  Candela	
  has	
  paid	
  taxes.	
  Mr.	
  Candela	
  
does	
  have	
  several	
  misdemeanor	
  
convictions:	
  a	
  2007	
  conviction	
  for	
  larceny,	
  a	
  
2012	
  DUI	
  conviction,	
  and	
  two	
  convictions	
  
for	
  federal	
  illegal	
  entry	
  in	
  2010.	
  
There	
  is	
  no	
  doubt	
  that	
  his	
  children,	
  many	
  of	
  
whom	
  have	
  serious	
  medical	
  problems,	
  will	
  
survive	
  without	
  their	
  father.	
  He	
  has	
  done	
  a	
  
tremendous	
  job	
  taking	
  care	
  of	
  all	
  of	
  them.	
  

“It	
  has	
  been	
  a	
  month	
  since	
  my	
  husband	
  was	
  detained.	
  	
  
My	
  children	
  are	
  very	
  sad,	
  they	
  no	
  longer	
  want	
  to	
  play	
  
after	
  school	
  and	
  they	
  keep	
  asking	
  when	
  will	
  Papá	
  come	
  
back	
  home.	
  For	
  me,	
  I	
  have	
  had	
  to	
  borrow	
  money	
  from	
  
friends	
  and	
  neighbors	
  to	
  afford	
  this	
  month’s	
  rent	
  and	
  
bills.	
  I	
  am	
  working	
  weekdays	
  6	
  to	
  9	
  p.m.	
  when	
  my	
  brother	
  
can	
  watch	
  my	
  children	
  for	
  a	
  while.	
  I	
  don’t	
  want	
  to	
  be	
  
homeless	
  and	
  alone	
  with	
  my	
  children;	
  that	
  is	
  my	
  worst	
  
nightmare.”	
  –	
  wife	
  of	
  Antonio	
  Candela	
  	
  

19

His	
  stay	
  of	
  removal	
  prepared	
  by	
  his	
  current	
  attorney	
  includes	
  letters	
  from	
  multiple	
  physicians	
  
stating	
  that	
  Mr.	
  Molina	
  and	
  his	
  wife	
  have	
  done	
  an	
  exceptional	
  job	
  at	
  taking	
  care	
  of	
  their	
  kids.
DHS	
  offered	
  no	
  explanation	
  for	
  changing	
  their	
  position	
  on	
  the	
  stay	
  of	
  removal,	
  which	
  had	
  been	
  
previously	
  granted	
  in	
  early	
  2014.	
  
	
  
	
  
Gustavo	
  Gallardo-­‐Hernandez,	
  (North	
  Carolina)
Deported	
  father	
  of	
  two	
  US	
  citizen	
  children	
  
Gustavo	
  is	
  young	
  father	
  to	
  two	
  USC	
  children,	
  one	
  of	
  whom	
  is	
  a	
  step-­‐child.	
  He	
  has	
  lived	
  here	
  for	
  
several	
  years.	
  	
  He	
  paid	
  his	
  taxes	
  and	
  regularly	
  worked	
  to	
  support	
  his	
  family.	
  His	
  prosecutorial	
  
discretion	
  submission	
  to	
  ICE	
  included	
  evidence	
  of	
  taxes	
  he	
  filed	
  and	
  letters	
  of	
  support	
  from	
  his	
  
children	
  and	
  friends.	
  In	
  2014,	
  he	
  was	
  arrested	
  for	
  driving	
  under	
  the	
  influence	
  and	
  eventually	
  
pled	
  guilty	
  in	
  February	
  2015.	
  After	
  his	
  arrest,	
  he	
  was	
  apprehended	
  by	
  ICE	
  and	
  complied	
  with	
  all	
  
conditions.	
  At	
  his	
  check-­‐in	
  on	
  March	
  3,	
  2015,	
  ICE	
  arrested	
  him.	
  He	
  was	
  deported	
  two	
  weeks	
  
later.	
  
	
  
	
  

	
  

20

Nicoll	
  Hernández-­‐Polanco,	
  (Arizona)
Transgender	
  detainee	
  passed	
  credible	
  fear	
  interview	
  	
  
Nicoll	
  is	
  a	
  Guatemalan	
  transgender	
  woman	
  currently	
  being	
  detained	
  at	
  an	
  ICE	
  all-­‐male	
  facility	
  in	
  Florence,	
  
Arizona.	
  In	
  October	
  2014,	
  Nicoll	
  presented	
  herself	
  to	
  a	
  US	
  port	
  of	
  entry	
  in	
  Arizona	
  to	
  seek	
  asylum	
  from	
  the	
  
violence	
  she	
  faced	
  in	
  her	
  home	
  country	
  due	
  to	
  her	
  gender	
  identity.	
  	
  Before	
  her	
  detention	
  Nicoll	
  submitted	
  and	
  
passed	
  a	
  credible	
  fear	
  interview.	
  ICE	
  has	
  disregarded	
  this	
  factor	
  as	
  well	
  as	
  Nicoll’s	
  experiences	
  inside	
  
detention	
  and	
  has	
  refuses	
  to	
  release	
  her.	
  	
  
	
  
In	
  detention,	
  Nicoll	
  experiences	
  sexual	
  harassment	
  and	
  abuse	
  at	
  the	
  hands	
  of	
  Florence	
  staff	
  for	
  being	
  a	
  
transgender	
  woman.	
  In	
  her	
  first	
  month	
  in	
  detention,	
  Nicoll	
  reported	
  that	
  male	
  guards	
  groped	
  her	
  breasts	
  and	
  
buttocks	
  6-­‐8	
  times	
  a	
  day	
  during	
  routine	
  pat-­‐downs,	
  made	
  offensive	
  sexual	
  comments	
  and	
  gestures,	
  and	
  
sometimes	
  pulled	
  her	
  hair.	
  Verbal	
  abuse	
  is	
  rampant	
  and	
  witnesses	
  have	
  heard	
  a	
  female	
  guard	
  refer	
  repeatedly	
  
to	
  Nicoll	
  as	
  “it”.
Nicoll	
  is	
  also	
  particularly	
  vulnerable	
  to	
  abuse	
  from	
  male	
  detainees.	
  She	
  is	
  required	
  to	
  shower	
  with,	
  use	
  the	
  
restroom	
  with,	
  and	
  sleep	
  in	
  the	
  same	
  room	
  as	
  men.	
  	
  As	
  a	
  result,	
  in	
  early	
  December	
  2014,	
  another	
  detained	
  
person	
  sexually	
  assaulted	
  Nicoll.	
  Despite	
  immediately	
  filing	
  a	
  complaint	
  that	
  facility	
  staff	
  has	
  purportedly	
  been	
  
investigating,	
  the	
  conclusions	
  of	
  any	
  investigation	
  have	
  not	
  been	
  disclosed	
  to	
  Nicoll.	
  	
  
	
  
The	
  danger	
  to	
  Nicoll	
  as	
  a	
  result	
  of	
  her	
  	
  
detention	
  presents	
  urgent	
  	
  
concerns	
  to	
  her	
  safety	
  and	
  health.	
  	
  
Offering	
  to	
  transfer	
  her	
  
to	
  the	
  GBT	
  pod	
  in	
  Santa	
  Ana	
  Jail	
  	
  
is	
  not	
  a	
  solution	
  because	
  it	
  would	
  	
  
isolate	
  her	
  from	
  her	
  community	
  	
  
of	
  support	
  and	
  legal	
  representation	
  	
  
in	
  Arizona.	
  
	
  

Nicoll	
  inside	
  her	
  
detention	
  cell	
  at	
  Eloy,	
  
photo	
  credit	
  to	
  
Fernanda	
  Echevarria,	
  
Arizona	
  Public	
  Media	
  	
  

	
  

21

Cases	
  from	
  new	
  sources	
  
Sonia	
  Belouniss,	
  (Colorado)3	
  
Married	
  to	
  U.S.	
  citizen	
  and	
  eligible	
  for	
  adjustment	
  	
  

Photo	
  by	
  Shaun	
  Stanly	
  at	
  Durango	
  Herald,	
  durangoherald.com	
  

	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  

A	
  former	
  teen	
  skiing	
  prodigy	
  who	
  competed	
  in	
  the	
  U.S.	
  Pro	
  Ski	
  Tour,	
  Ms.	
  Belouniss	
  is	
  a	
  French	
  
national	
  nurse	
  who	
  is	
  married	
  to	
  a	
  U.S.	
  citizen.	
  	
  In	
  January	
  2014,	
  she	
  was	
  arrested	
  for	
  domestic	
  
violence	
  and	
  harassment,	
  but	
  everything	
  was	
  dismissed.	
  	
  However,	
  these	
  arrests	
  brought	
  her	
  to	
  
the	
  attention	
  of	
  ICE.	
  She	
  has	
  no	
  convictions	
  and	
  has	
  been	
  with	
  her	
  partner,	
  David	
  Wyattor	
  for	
  
nearly	
  two	
  decades.	
  ICE	
  designated	
  her	
  a	
  priority	
  because	
  she	
  overstayed	
  her	
  period	
  of	
  
authorized	
  stay	
  under	
  the	
  visa	
  waiver	
  program.	
  According	
  to	
  several	
  news	
  outlets,	
  a	
  week	
  
after	
  her	
  case	
  was	
  brought	
  to	
  the	
  attention	
  of	
  Senator	
  Bennett	
  and	
  Representative	
  Tipton;	
  she	
  
received	
  a	
  one-­‐year	
  stay	
  to	
  resolve	
  her	
  status.	
  
	
  
	
  

3

	
  http://www.durangoherald.com/article/20150310/NEWS01/150319959/Durango-­‐nurse-­‐facing-­‐deportation	
  

22

	
  
Adam	
  Crasper	
  is	
  the	
  father	
  of	
  two	
  young	
  U.S.	
  citizen	
  children.	
  He	
  entered	
  the	
  US	
  as	
  an	
  adoptee	
  from	
  
South	
  Korea.	
  He	
  endured	
  horrific	
  abuse	
  from	
  his	
  adopted	
  parents	
  and	
  foster	
  parents,	
  leading	
  him	
  
to	
  become	
  homeless.	
  He	
  was	
  later	
  convicted	
  of	
  a	
  burglary	
  offense,	
  an	
  aggravated	
  felony	
  under	
  
immigration	
  law.	
  News	
  outlets	
  report	
  that	
  ICE	
  has	
  added	
  additional	
  immigration	
  charges	
  to	
  
his	
  Notice	
  to	
  Appear.	
  	
  

	
  

45

Omar Lopez is married to a U.S. citizen, Tali
Lopez, and has a U.S. citizen stepdaughter, Mila.
He was designated a priority because he violated
the visa waiver program through his overstay.
Arrested after a traffic stop, he was detained and
subsequently deported days after his arrest. In a
newspaper article, the attorney complained,
"ICE's letter rejecting Lopez's motion was almost
identical to the letter it had previously sent
informing her of the decision to deport
him.

4

http://www.buffalonews.com/city-region/federal-court/despite-hardship-plea-by-wife-man-is-being-deported-in-visacase-20150325
5
http://www.kgw.com/story/news/politics/2015/04/02/crasper-korea-adopt-deportation-portland/70824432/

23

Mr.	
  X,	
  	
  (California)	
  	
  
U.S.	
  citizen	
  fiancé,	
  approved	
  U-­‐visa	
  certification	
  and	
  passed	
  a	
  reasonable	
  fear	
  interview	
  
Mr.	
  X	
  has	
  resided	
  in	
  the	
  United	
  States	
  since	
  2000	
  and	
  has	
  several	
  family	
  members	
  who	
  have	
  
status	
  in	
  the	
  United	
  States.	
  	
  A	
  well-­‐regarded	
  auto	
  mechanic,	
  Mr.	
  X	
  was	
  apprehended	
  in	
  
December	
  2014	
  after	
  a	
  tip	
  to	
  immigration	
  authorities.	
  	
  In	
  his	
  176-­‐page	
  submission	
  in	
  support	
  of	
  
his	
  prosecutorial	
  discretion	
  request,	
  Mr.	
  X	
  included	
  letters	
  from	
  his	
  US	
  citizen	
  fiancée,	
  and	
  
forty-­‐three	
  letters	
  of	
  support	
  from	
  family	
  members,	
  friends,	
  and	
  the	
  children	
  of	
  his	
  U.S.	
  citizen	
  
fiancée.	
  Mr.	
  X	
  has	
  a	
  U	
  visa	
  certification	
  he	
  obtained	
  as	
  a	
  result	
  of	
  being	
  the	
  victim	
  of	
  a	
  2004	
  
machete	
  attack.	
  	
  Moreover,	
  he	
  received	
  a	
  positive	
  reasonable	
  fear	
  finding.	
  Mr.	
  X	
  has	
  a	
  DUI	
  
conviction	
  from	
  2001	
  and	
  a	
  complicated	
  immigration	
  history	
  involving	
  several	
  attempts	
  to	
  
reinstate	
  prior	
  removal	
  orders.	
  His	
  most	
  recent	
  entries	
  are	
  related	
  to	
  a	
  sexual	
  assault	
  that	
  he	
  
endured	
  in	
  Mexico,	
  which	
  also	
  serves	
  as	
  the	
  basis	
  for	
  his	
  withholding	
  of	
  removal	
  application.	
  
ICE	
  provided	
  conflicting	
  information	
  to	
  the	
  attorney	
  about	
  its	
  decision	
  to	
  continue	
  detaining	
  
Mr.	
  X-­‐	
  at	
  one	
  time	
  stating	
  it	
  was	
  the	
  reinstatement	
  issue	
  then	
  switching	
  to	
  the	
  old	
  DUI	
  
conviction.	
  	
  It	
  is	
  not	
  clear	
  whether	
  the	
  office	
  considered	
  the	
  Prosecutorial	
  Discretion:	
  Certain	
  
Victims,	
  Witnesses,	
  and	
  Plaintiffs	
  memorandum	
  in	
  making	
  its	
  decision.	
  	
  
	
  

Picture	
  by	
  Mr.	
  X’s	
  niece	
  contained	
  in	
  the	
  prosecutorial	
  discretion	
  request.	
  

24

Conclusion	
  
This	
  is	
  a	
  preliminary	
  report,	
  but	
  we	
  believe	
  DHS	
  must	
  promptly	
  change	
  its	
  practices	
  in	
  assessing	
  
evidence	
  in	
  support	
  of	
  a	
  request	
  for	
  a	
  positive	
  exercise	
  of	
  discretion.	
  	
  	
  Over	
  the	
  past	
  few	
  
months,	
  communities	
  report	
  feeling	
  skeptical	
  that	
  the	
  President	
  and	
  DHS	
  will	
  sincerely	
  engage	
  
DHS	
  rank	
  and	
  file	
  employees	
  about	
  the	
  new	
  changes.	
  	
  DHS	
  must	
  commit	
  to	
  a	
  new	
  screening	
  
process	
  that	
  systemically	
  elevates	
  ties	
  to	
  the	
  community	
  and	
  family	
  and	
  must	
  commit	
  to	
  an	
  
outside	
  review	
  process.	
  Moreover,	
  DHS	
  must	
  develop	
  a	
  new	
  calculus	
  that	
  explicitly	
  factors	
  in	
  
individual	
  circumstances	
  and	
  equities	
  for	
  each	
  priority	
  category.	
  	
  
	
  
	
  

25