Straying inadvertently into Canada takes another “toll”
by Khushboo Agarwal - November 9, 2009
Open border with Canada is helping USA net undocumented workers overstaying USA.
Over the past two months, this is fourth reported case where an documented worker lost his way, strayed in to Canada and has been given deportation orders. Alonso Chehade, an undocumented worker, drove accidently on Interstate 5, all the way to the Canadian border. He was living illegally in Washington for the last eight years.
As he re-entered USA, customs officials at the border discovered his immigration status and he was sent to immigration detention centre. Later, he was released on bail, he now has one week left in the United States before he faces deportation to Peru.
He had come to US with his family when he was 14.
He is now pushing for a senate bill that will grant him reprieve from his situation. Instead, Chehade has politicized his case and mobilized followers through social-networking Web sites to lobby on his behalf. He has used host of netwprking sites as Facebook besides making a flurry of public appearances to further his cause,
He has also garnered support from politicians like Seattle congressman Jim McDermott, who introduced a bill on his behalf. Chehade and his supporters have also lobbied Washington state Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell to take up his cause. He is hoping for a last minute deferral which would allow him to remain in the United States for anywhere from several weeks to a few years.
Already there are many precedents where some young immigrants have got deferral. Meanwhile some groups fighting illegal immigration as Americans for Legal Immigration have argued that anecdotes like Chehade’s should not deter legislators from their duty to uphold immigration law.
Whereas most undocumented students remain quiet for fear of reproach, Chehade said he has nothing to fear since his undocumented status is already public.
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