UPDATE: Small victory for Jose in immigration case

by Larry James of of Urban Daily

Reality day.

This morning at 9:00 a.m. I, and several other people, will be sitting in the Dallas Immigration Court located in the federal courthouse at 1100 Commerce Street, Room 404.

We'll all be there for one reason: Jose, our friend.

Jose is a bright, 18-year-old young man whose always been a good guy. Never caused his parents any problems at all. Just finished high school. No drugs. No drinking. No gangs. No violence. No trouble with anyone.

Jose came to the United States as a much younger boy. His parents brought him here when they came from Mexico. They, like millions of others, came without proper documentation. They came to work, and they found jobs, plenty of work to do here. They came for a better life. No one stopped them. Lots of people hired them. They built a life in Dallas.

Earlier this spring, Immigration and Custom Enforcement officers arrested young Jose and his cousin, Monica at a high school "Senior Skip Day" party at a farm outside Greenville, Texas. [For more details on the troubling experiences of Jose and Monica, type "Monica" in the search feature above.]

Today Jose appears before the Immigration Court. He will be represented by an able attorney.

Our prayer list this morning includes three items: We are all hoping and praying that the judge will be lenient and delay any decision on Jose for several weeks or months.

Second, we are praying that the immigration prosecutor will exercise his/her administrative discretion, dismiss the charges and let the case die.

Third, we are working hard to convince the U. S. Congress to pass some version of "The Dream Act" that would provide protection for young people and children who have been in the country for many years, who have displayed good character and who want to continue their eduction.

Please remember Jose this morning. Remember his parents and his entire family. Remember the judge.

UPDATE: Since many are asking, I thought I'd go ahead and provide an update on Jose (see post earlier this morning below).

The Court granted a continuance to Jose and his attorney so that adequate preparation can be made to seek relief for him in the deportation proceedings filed against him.

He will be required to appear again on November 5, 2007.

Between now than then, we intend to mount a letter-writing campaign to every member of the U. S. House of Representatives and the U. S. Senate seeking passage of "The Dream Act."

This legislation could provide relief to the children of undocumented immigrants by allowing them to remain in the country with the documents they need. The only requirement would be that they are enrolled in higher education or join the U. S. military and continue to demonstrate standards of high character.

I hope you will join me today by writing your U. S. Senators and your Representative.

When you write, you could help our campaign by forwarding on to me a copy of your letters.

You may email letters to me at ljames@CentralDallasMinistries.org and/or mail them to me at Central Dallas Ministries, P. O. Box 710385, Dallas, Texas 75371-0385.

Thanks for your concern and your prayers.

Now, we need your action!

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