Stop Graciela's Deportation
UPDATE: Great news! Thanks to supporters like you who signed the petition to stop Graciela's deportation, she was released on Friday. Graciela is now back in California with her family and looks forward to continuing her education. Although there is still a long fight ahead to ensure Graciela can stay home indefinitely, we have won a great battle in her release.
There are currently hundreds of undocumented youth wrongfully incarcerated and in the deportation process. We will not stop this work until DREAMers across the country can pursue their dreams, stay with their families, and be free from fear of detention and deportation. Thank you for bringing justice to the lives of DREAMers across the nation.
Graciela came to the U.S. in 1996 with her mother. Within a year, she was able to speak English, make new friends, and participate in school activities. When she was just 16 years old, her mom returned to Mexico in order to take care of her sick father. Thankfully Graciela had the support of her aunt, who allowed her to live with her and was able to start working part time to continue her education.
Since her mom left, Graciela’s life has been very difficult, but she hasn’t given up. She recently earned her Associate’s Degree from Mt. San Antonio College, in Walnut,California and is currently pursuing her Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology at California State University-Fullerton. Graciela’s dream is to become a college Sociology instructor.
On Saturday, September 10, 2011 Graciela traveled from Los Angeles to Miami to attend a job-related convention. Although she felt uneasy about this trip, Graciela decided continue with her travel plans since her job was the only income she had to support herself and pay for school. Unfortunately, while trying to enter the convention center at Port Everglades, ICE officials asked Graciela for identification. They then proceeded to arrest her when she showed them her Mexican passport. Graciela is currently detained at the Broward Transitional Center in Florida.
Take action by signing this petition to ask ICE Field Office Director, Marc Moore, to release Graciela and grant her Prosecutorial Discretion. Graciela does not belong in jail; she should be allowed to return home so she can continue her education and achieve her dream of becoming a Sociology instructor.