Jorge Garcia deported, bids goodbye to wife, children
The battle to keep the Garcia family together ended early Monday morning at Detroit Metropolitan airport as Jorge Garcia complied with a deportation order. This, despite the national holiday commemorating civil rights icon, Martin Luther King Jr. and movement on congress for immigration reform to codify Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). Recent comments about Haitians on the anniversary of the earthquake that struck the island have compelled the President to respond to charges of racism during the King holiday.
Jorge has been a Detroit resident for 30 years since his family brought him here at the age of 10. However, he was just 2 years too old to qualify for DACA. He has been an exemplary member of his community on a rollercoaster-like odyssey to stay here. President Trump has asked for, and received a bipartisan plan to protect “Dreamers” protected by DACA and for comprehensive immigration reform that might help Jorge. Trump’s rejection of a clean Dream Act could scuttle hopes for passage of the federal budget, resulting in a painful government shutdown.
Jorge’s wife, Cindy was told he wouldn’t be allowed to return home for a decade. Still, she keeps hope alive that they will not be separated for that long. “We’re going to pray and get him back fast, faster than this paperwork that gave him a 10 year bar.”
Cindy thanked everyone who got up before dawn to give much needed support, friends, activists and her union brothers and sisters. “I don’t see the justice in this,” said AJ Freer of UAW 600. “For a man who cares deeply and supports his family, obeys the law, pays taxes and has a history of helping others, I think ICE and the Federal Government of the United States acted cruelly to this family.” Bruised but unbowed, Freer vowed “Now we fight to get him back.”
UPDATE: Thanks to the prayers and persistence of Cindy, her family and their supporters, plus the hard work of Rep. Debbie Dingell and her office, Jorge was reunited with his family shortly before Christmas, 2019.
