FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 13, 2017
CONTACT: media@cwsglobal.org | 202-750-0960
CWS Calls on DHS to Immediately Release Dreamer Detained After DACA Renewal Application Lost by Post Office
Cindy, Aroche Enriquez’s fiance: ‘I don’t understand why they have him as a prisoner, he doesn’t have a bad record here… He has his son who needs him.’
Washington, D.C. – CWS today called for the immediate release of Osman Aroche Enriquez, who was detained by Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) Monday morning after a traffic stop by state police.
Aroche Enriquez is a Dreamer from Lancaster, PA whose Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status expired after the U.S. Postal Service failed to deliver dozens of DACA renewal applications on time. After pressure from advocates and Members of Congress, the administration has allowed some of the impacted individuals to submit proof of their circumstances along with another renewal request. However, those affected have been left in limbo, and their situation has not stopped local law enforcement authorities and federal agencies from arresting them, as is evident given Mr. Aroche Enriquez’s situation.
“Everyday in our communities, our undocumented community members are being profiled by unscrupulous law enforcement authorities, including dreamers,” said CWS President and CEO Rev. John L. McCullough. “Osman Aroche Enriquez is a 27-year-old Pennsylvanian, who graduated from Lancaster’s Lampeter Strasburg High School. He should not be torn away from his son– an American citizen– because the Post Office failed to get his application in on time. Osman’s case highlights the absurd injustice of the current broken immigration system, and underscores the urgent need for Congress to pass a clean Dream Act immediately.”
Speaking exclusively with CWS, Cindy, Aroche Enriquez’s fiance, said, “I don’t understand why they have him as a prisoner, he doesn’t have a bad record here… He has his son who needs him. Our son is just a baby, and it’s very hard for me. We depend on him.”
More than 10,000 DACA recipients like Aroche Enriquez have already lost their status because Congress has failed to act. Just last week, Congress failed to include the Dream Act in the continuing resolution that will fund the government for two weeks. Every day the Congress delays is another day of uncertainty for 800,000 young people.
Thirty-four Republicans Members of Congress signed a letter in support of passing a permanent fix for DACA recipients by the end of December. With only two weeks left to reach a solution, Congress must act now to keep American families together. CWS urges everyone who can to call their member of Congress to demand Oscar Aroche Enriquez be reunited with his family and pass a clean Dream Act before the end of the year: http://p2a.co/h9D09nz.
Since 1946, Church World Service has supported refugees, immigrants and other displaced individuals, in addition to providing sustainable relief and development solutions to communities that wrestle with hunger and poverty. Learn more about our refugee and immigrant work at GreaterAs1.org.
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