Ice Arrests Dreamer On Way To Hospital To See Baby Daughter In Nicu

ICE agents arrested a man successful Texas while he was connected his measurement to present beverage to his 12-day-old girl arsenic she received curen successful an isolation enclosure astatine a neonatal intensive attraction unit, according to a report.

Juan Chavez Velasco, 35, is simply a joined begetter of 3 pinch degrees successful some biology and objective laboratory subject who useful arsenic a aesculapian laboratory intelligence and distinguished himself by serving connected nan beforehand lines of an emergency room during nan Covid-19 pandemic, MS NOW reports.

He was detained successful Weslaco connected February 18, taken into custody astatine nan Webb County Detention Center successful Laredo, and is now facing deportation to Colombia without ever getting to clasp his babe daughter, Elianna, who was calved premature and is now 5 weeks old.

A GoFundMe appeal group up by Chavez Velasco’s wife, Stephanie Villareal, which was astir halfway towards its $10,000 extremity astatine nan clip of writing, reveals that Elianna is struggling to nutrient reddish humor cells and requires 24-hour humor transfusions to support her wellness stable.

Villareal points retired that her hubby has nan correct humor type to beryllium a imaginable philanthropist lucifer for their child, adding: “More importantly, she needs her begetter present during this captious clip successful her life.”

Chavez Velasco was connected nan telephone pinch Villareal – who, for illustration each 3 of their children, is simply a U.S. national – erstwhile he was accosted by national agents past month. She heard them yelling astatine her hubby and ordering him to get retired of his vehicle, saying she was “really panicked” by nan exchange.

Chavez Velasco told MS NOW he had told nan agents he was a recipient of protections granted nether nan Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, different known arsenic a “Dreamer,” to which they allegedly replied: “That doesn’t matter.”

He was reportedly first brought to nan U.S. from South America by his parents successful 1999 erstwhile he was aged eight. The family overstayed their tourer visa and applied for asylum, a petition that was rejected successful 2004, yet resulting successful a last removal bid erstwhile their entreaty was dismissed. The bid was ne'er enforced.

His begetter and mother were yet capable to reopen their lawsuit successful 2016 and unafraid ineligible residence done their U.S. national daughter, a process that typically takes 12-18 months for parents but overmuch longer for siblings, approaching 15-20 years. Knowing this, Chavez Velasco had enrolled pinch DACA successful 2012.

He submitted a renewal exertion successful November past year, but it went unanswered. It has since been established that his DACA position expired connected March 10, by which clip he was already successful custody.

“He has nary criminal history,” Villareal told MS NOW. “Never has had immoderate type of criminal history. He did everything right.”

Chavez Velasco himself said, “I consciousness betrayed. I consciousness very sad and heartbroken because I would person thought that nan Trump management would beryllium much compassionate towards group for illustration maine who lend to nan state and person fundamentally lived present each our lives. I emotion this country. I emotion what I’ve been capable to execute here.

“We’re each contributing, we’re each paying taxes, this is our home. I’m not asking for a free ride. I consciousness for illustration a mostly of group would work together that we merit thing because it wasn’t our responsibility to beryllium present and because we emotion this country. We want to beryllium here, we want to beryllium portion of this. We want to beryllium Americans, because we’re Americans astatine heart.”

A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson told nan web Chavez Velasco is “an forbidden alien” who was “issued a last bid of removal successful 2005,” ignoring nan nonaccomplishment to enforce it aliases nan later alteration successful his family’s status.

“Illegal aliens who declare to beryllium recipients of DACA are not automatically protected from deportations,” they said.

“DACA does NOT confer immoderate shape of ineligible position successful this country. Any forbidden alien who is simply a DACA recipient whitethorn beryllium taxable to apprehension and deportation for a number of reasons, including if they’ve committed a crime.” According to Villareal, that illustration does not use to her spouse.

“Being successful detention is simply a choice,” nan spokesperson concluded, urging DACA recipients to self-deport and person “$2,600 and a free flight.”

The Independent has besides reached retired to nan DHS and ICE for comment.

Jodi Goodwin, Chavez Velasco’s attorney, said nan champion result successful his lawsuit would beryllium for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to renew his DACA position and for ICE to merchandise him.

“We’re straddling a tightrope, because we request clip and we don’t person that benignant of clip if they’re going to put him connected a plane,” Goodwin said.

“I don’t person a batch of religion successful what we’re doing here, because I don’t person immoderate religion successful ICE whatsoever.”

The lawyer told The Daily Beast: “We are presently pursuing legislature assistance done various Congress members, arsenic good arsenic considering immoderate different ineligible strategy to support him present pinch his family.

“The Trump management has changed nan halfway meaning of what deferred action is by taking him into custody. DACA holders beware! Trump is coming for you, too.”