Bartelon family granted one year delay of deportation ICE heeds community’s prayers for mercy for disabled teen
(UPDATE: Rep. Lawrence's statement has been revised)
Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials decided today to grant the Bartolon family’s request for three stays of removal for Daris and her two daughters. Their attorney, Kevin Piecuch presented the applications Wednesday when they appeared for what they feared might be their last appointment before being deported by year’s end. As they did, Members of a network of Catholic parish circles of support called Strangers No Longer offered their prayers outside led by Sr. Martha de la Torre, a Sister of Mary Reparatrix. The reprieve will allow Daris’ 15-year old daughter, Maddeline to continue receiving treatment for another year for her right leg which is severely misshapen due to a vitamin deficiency called Ricketts. Surgeries that would have been unavailable to her in Guatemala have been provided pro-bono by Shriners Hospital for Children in Chicago. “We are grateful that these applications were approved. The family’s needs were undeniable,” said Piecuch who is also Director of the Southwest Detroit Immigration and Refugee Center. Irma Landin, a member of St. Anne Basilica and one of the leaders of the campaign, informed the Strangers No Longer network of parish circles that she and Daris are “floating on air right now because of the support of all of you good people who wrote letters and contacted Congresspeople Rashida Tlaib, Brenda Lawrence, Debbie Dingell and Senator Gary Peters.” Strangers No Longer delivered to ICE Regional Field Director, Rebecca Adducci 50 letters of support for the family signed by Catholic Pastors and other community leaders. Rep. Lawrence also called Adducci to personally ask for the stay of removal and was relieved to hear she approved them. “It is only right that Daris Bartolon-Morales and her two daughters get the compassion they deserve from our federal government,” Rep. Lawrence said in a statement. “There is no doubt in my mind that this family has been through a lot. All they are asking for is time to continue medical treatment so that Maddeline can be given the opportunity to heal and lead a better life. We must continue our work towards a more humane immigration system.“
