Danilo Lopez, the Mexican farm worker who became a cause célèbre for Vermont’s undocumented farm laborers, won a reprieve in his deportation case today.
U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement granted Lopez (pictured) a “stay of removal” that will allow him to remain in the country at least another year. Lopez has been under threat of deportation since July 5, stemming from a 2011 traffic stop in which he and another farm worker here illegally were stopped by state police in Interstate 89.
Burlington-based advocacy group Migrant Justice issued a press release announcing the news. In it, Lopez is quoted as saying, “I’ve gotten such tremendous support during this campaign that we’ve made ICE change their mind. I feel very fortunate to have so much support — in particular from my community of farm workers who told me: ‘We’ve got your back. We’ll fight with you.'”
Perhaps more importantly, Lopez also had support from Vermont’s three-member congressional delegation; U.S.Sens. Patrick Leahy and Bernie Sanders and U.S. Rep. Peter Welch all wrote letters of support to ICE officials. Leahy asked Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano to apply prosecutorial discretion to Lopez’s case.
Migrant justice organizers Brendan O’Neill and Natalia Fajardo did not return calls seeking comment Tuesday afternoon.
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Just wondering how many people in the Farmers for Migrant Justice parade (in the photo) are actual farmers. I would think that during the day the farmers would be, you know, farming.
It’s good to have the law on your side but its even better to have Senators.
Not sure what the purpose of this stay was… obvious ICE is bowing to their boss Big Pat, however it took Obama being elected President to keep his Aunt from being deported, being just a Senator apparently didn’t cut it. Lopez will be deported sooner or later. If he was smart he would just go, and then fight to come back.
You would think law abiding citizens would want their Senators to uphold the oaths of office they swore when they keep getting reelected. To support and defend the constitution against all enemies foreign and domestic. Not circumvent the Federal government employees from doing their jobs, and showing poor examples to the public by ignoring the law and preventing the Federal government law enforcement officers that you fund and are undermining for cheap underhanded election maneuvering for your next “photo op”. Shame on you! We used to call people traitors for less.