N.J. Immigrant And Grandpa Threatened With Deportation, Gets Temporary Relief

NEWARK, NJ — New Jersey immigration supporters scored a heartwarming – albeit temporary - victory for undocumented residents in the state when the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) field office in Newark announced Friday that it would grant a local grandfather a temporary stay on deportation, an official says.

Catalino Guerrero - a law abiding grandfather who lives in Union City - fled Puebla, Mexico in 1991 in pursuit of economic opportunity and an escape from a crime-ridden area, according to Faith in New Jersey, a member of grassroots advocacy group PICO National Network.

Guerrero has sought a pathway to citizenship for more than a decade, but has faced one obstacle after another after his former attorney “bungled the paperwork,” PICO spokespeople allege.

When he tried to obtain a work permit, he was misled into applying for asylum. It wasn’t until eight years later – after annually renewing his work permit and paying his taxes – he was put into deportation proceedings, PICO spokespeople stated.

ICE issued an order of deportation against Guerrero in 2004 after his application for a work permit was denied, NJ.com reported.

Guerrero has no more connections in Mexico; all his relatives have died or are in the U.S., according to the Latin Post.

His supporters have managed to delay the deportation order for more than a decade. But following Trump’s inauguration, Guerrero was facing a looming date of March 10 to return to the ICE office in Newark and surrender his passport, PICO spokespeople said.

Several North Jersey religious and community leaders have since spoken out in favor of Guerrero’s pleas to remain in the United States with the family that he loves.

• See related article: Newark Rally Aims To Stop N.J. Immigrant’s Deportation

On Friday, U.S. Senator Robert Menendez announced that the Newark ICE office has decided not to detain Guerrero and to accept his application for a stay of removal.

“After weeks of listening to heart wrenching reports of ICE raids and detentions of mothers, victims of domestic violence and DACA recipients, I am glad Catalino can go home and be with his family today,” Menendez stated.

However, the senator cautioned that Guerrero’s case is not over, and the ICE decision to review his application will only offer a temporary reprieve from deportation until his next scheduled appointment on May 22.

“I urge ICE to give full consideration to his request for a stay of removal, so this New Jersey family can live in peace,” Menendez said. “ICE should focus its resources on detaining and deporting hardened criminals not loving grandpas. I will continue to monitor Mr. Guerrero’s case and continue the fight to fix our broken immigration system, so that people like Mr. Guerrero can find a pathway to citizenship and ICE can focus on the real ‘bad hombres.’”

• See related article: Feds Arrest 82 In N.J. During Massive Immigration Sweep
• See related article: Immigration Agents Arrest ‘Most Wanted Fugitive’ In New Jersey

“We are grateful that Catalino will be returning home, however, ICE is only kicking the can down the road and leaving Catalino and his family living in a state of uncertainty and fear,” said Richard Morales, immigration policy director for PICO National Network, which has advocated on Guerrero’s behalf. “I see no reason why ICE could not grant him a stay today. They know Catalino is not a danger to the community. They know Catalino has many ties to the United States including grandchildren. The fact is Catalino has lived in this country for 25 years and faces deportation because he trusted the wrong person. ICE should immediately exercise discretion and grant him a permanent stay of removal.”

Photo: Senator Robert Menendez, Facebook

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