Prosecutorial Discretion Granted, But ICE Refuses to Say When Pedro Hernandez-Ramirez Will Come Home
Pedro Hernandez-Ramirez–husband, loving father of four, and primary caretaker of his oldest son, Juan, who has cerebral palsy— has been granted a one year stay of deportation, yet Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is so far refusing to release him from Geauga County (OH) Jail.
While Pedro’s family and activists welcome the news of Pedro’s stay, ICE’s abuse of authority and insistence on keeping Pedro in jail indefinitely is both needless and infuriating.
Pro-reform activists mobilized quickly to tell Pedro’s story when Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) threatened to rip Pedro away from his family, preparing to deport him in the middle of the night. America’s Voice asked people to send a clear message to Rebecca Adducci, Director of the Detroit ICE Office, and other key DHS and ICE officials–Don’t Deport Pedro—and the petition on MoveOn.org garnered over 7,000 signatures in less than 24 hours.
Now activists are asking a new question of Adducci: Why won’t you let Pedro reunite with his family?
Pedro came to the United States from Mexico in search of a job, and built his life with Seleste and their four children, all of whom are U.S. citizens, in Elyria, Ohio. Pedro was a fire-fighter in Mexico, and he has a kind heart. Pedro’s family, especially Juan, needs him. He is exactly the sort of person America should welcome with open arms, not expel.
“Instead of dragging their feet to implement a decision that has already been made, and wasting additional taxpayer dollars locking him up, ICE should let Pedro go home to be with his loved ones,” said David Leopold, Hernandez-Ramirez’s attorney.
Below is a summary of media coverage telling Pedro’s story:
- Cleveland Plain Dealer: Elyria husband, caregiver fights federal deportation case that could break up family
- WKYX-TV: Undocumented dad who faced deportation gets to stay for one year
- Telemundo’s Al Rojo Vivo: Joven enfrenta deportación
