Manuel Roman is a father of two U.S. citizens who is scheduled to be deported tomorrow. The petition alleges that the US has not followed its own criteria for enforcement and that the treatment of Manuel and his family constitutes human rights violations.
Chicago, IL –(ENEWSPF)—November 30, 2015. Hours before his scheduled deportation, the case of Manuel Roman took an unexpected turn as he and his attorney filed a claim against the US and Mexican governments for alleged human rights violations.
After more than a year in detention and despite multiple requests for discretion and specious rationale from the agency, ICE has scheduled to deport Mr. Manuel Roman tomorrow, Tuesday December 1st. But that could be put on hold now that Mr. Roman and his family have filed a petition with the InterAmerican Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), which investigates human rights violations, for causing immediate danger and irreparable harm for his family, particularly his two U.S. citizen daughters, Camila Roman, who is four years old, and Miranda Roman, who is one year old.
Mr. Roman is also requesting that the Chicago Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office delay his deportation and review his case until there can be a full determination regarding the petition.
“We sought the protection of the InterAmerican Commission for Human Rights on behalf of Manuel because he is trapped in a system where there is no transparency or accountability,” explained Mony Ruiz-Velasco, Mr. Roman’s legal representative. “His deportation violates international human rights standards and ICE’s own policies. Manuel, his partner, and his U.S. citizen daughters will suffer irreparable harm if he is deported tomorrow,” she concluded.
The claim alleges that Mr. Roman’s deportation from the U.S. will violate his and his family’s right to private and family life and the right to a fair trial, under the American Declaration of the Rights and Duties of Man and the American Convention on Human Rights. Moreover, it states that if the Mexican government assists in Mr. Roman’s deportation, “Mexico would be complicit by aiding and abetting the United States’ violations of the American Declaration.”
Manuel has been in the country since he was 16 years old and have made this country his home. His entire family lives in the U.S. Although Manuel has one misdemeanor for simple possession, he should not be considered priority for deportation according to the Department of Homeland Security’s own criteria outlined in Secretary Jeh Johnson‘s November 20, 2014 memoranda. In addition, he would be eligible for President Obama’s Deferred Action for Parental Accountability (DAPA), since his children are U.S. citizens.
Despite several requests from Manuel’s family and attorneys the Chicago ICE Office has refused to follow its own priority guidelines and exercise discretion to close his case or release him from detention. A petition for Manuel signed by thousands of supporters can be found here: http://www.notonemoredeportation.com/portfolio/manuelroman/
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Organized Communities Against Deportations (OCAD) is a community based organization in Illinois that organizes against unfair and inhumane immigration enforcement practices that impact immigrant communities.
Source: OCAD
