Open Letter to DHS: Don’t Deport Herta Tomorrow!

America's Voice Blog

Posted 08/18/09 at 02:29pm

Open Letter to DHS: Don’t Deport Herta Tomorrow!

Eight years ago, Herta Llusho came with her family to the US from Albania-- when she was just eleven years old. Herta's family came for the reason most immigrants do: in pursuit of the American dream. Today that dream has become a nightmare.

Herta is due to present herself to be deported tomorrow.

From Dave Bennion at Change.org:

[Urgent: Please click through here to fax ICE and ask them to defer Herta's deportation. Even if you have already signed the petition or called Senators, this what you can do right now to have an impact.]

Undocumented student Herta Llusho is facing deportation back to Albania after living in the United States since the age of 11. She graduated from high school with a 4.05 GPA and is currently an engineering student at University of Detroit Mercy. Herta has volunteered in her community and is an active member of her church.

Herta's community has rallied around her cause, sponsoring a rally at Herta's church last night. Channel 7 News in Detroit covered it here (video above).

Mo from DreamActivist has put up an extensive list of actions you can take at the youth-run website, and DreamActivist has been working with SEIU to rally phonecalls and faxes to DHS on behalf of Herta. If you haven't yet, take action here on behalf of Herta now- time is running out to prevent her deportation.

This year, on July 1st, DHS deferred Walter Lara’s deportation, and soon after, on July 24, another DREAM Student, Taha Mowla had his deportation deferred. But each year, approximately 65,000 U.S.-raised students without legal status are blocked from achieving their dreams and from giving back to a country they love.

In Herta's own words:

I have been truly blessed in the many opportunities I have received. The United States has made me the person I am today. I would like nothing more than to contribute to the country that has given me so much.

Herta herself graduated from high school with a 4.05 GPA, and wrote for her school’s literary magazine. She was an active member of the Spanish club, the National Honor Society, the track and soccer teams, and her church. If nothing changes, this electrical engineering student from the University of Detroit will be uprooted from the place that she has called home, torn from friends and family, and deported to Albania. Not only will Herta be unable to complete her studies, she will become one more victim of our nation's badly broken immigration system.

To speak out for Herta, click here today-- tomorrow might be too late.