Sabrina
06-04-2009, 10:01 PM
Finally I spoke with our Lawyer, yesterday, so I'm feeling a little relieved about that. Basically he says that due to the nature of the forms he has filed (I-290B - application for class membership in NWIRP vs USCIS and the I-130 application for alien relative) he will not get an actual response back from their respective departments for at least a month. When he gets them back, actually written acknowledgment by USCIS(new name of INS) that they have received those forms, he will then file a motion to reopen his case; the deportation case based on the overstay of student visa. He says that Okili then is actually eligible for adjustment of status (which is what the I-130 does, adjust his status to that of a family member to American citizens.) Meanwhile, while this case is being reopened we should also be under the protection of the pending application for the Amnesty membership application, which is supposed to temporarily stop any deportation. At the time he files the motion to reopen he would also file a request for a bond hearing. If he gets a bond he could get out of the detention facility as soon as in 2 months from now, but not sooner. When he gets out he will be able to continue the fight home. There's a chance he may have to fight everything from AZ which could take a lot longer.
We hope he won't have to stay much longer than the two months as his treatment there, since he was downgraded to a less desirable housing building (after they brought him back from the airport when they almost deported him), has not been so great. He's a little afraid to tell me too much about the treatment as they are listening in on the phones and he doesn't want more retaliation. He's afraid if I call to complain they may do more to him as well. I know that he's wearing shoes too small, is sharing a room with another inmate w/ a snoring disorder, was not able to get things he'd purchased prior to going to the airport back from the building he previously stayed, that had nicer employees, etc (toothpaste, lotion, razor, food, etc). He wouldn't tell me everything and says he just wants the lawyer to visit him so that he can tell him all in person. The lawyer says he may have some connections in there that can help make things easier on Okili, we'll see, I hope so.
This is all very complicated and hard for everyone including me, to understand how it all works - there's no real paved road to follow here.
I also got a call from Melissa Redezno in Mike Thompson's office asking how his case is going, which was very nice of her. She wants to be kept informed.
I had a second interview with Ida Johnson on her Santa Rosa Media Center TV program "What's Hot" if anyone got a chance to see it. It may replay if you check their schedule.
Okili would like letters of Affidavit. Basically that's a one page letter of your support and how you've known him, etc. to whom it may concern. Especially if you've known him any length of time in the community, that would be great. I was thinking you could send letters directly to the lawyer, and email them to me (via private post here, unless you want it public) so I can print them and mail them to Okili.
Here's the Lawyer's address:
Law office of Richard LaPaglia
515 N. Main Street
Eloy, AZ 85231
Thanks so much for your help to us!
Sabrina Krauss
We hope he won't have to stay much longer than the two months as his treatment there, since he was downgraded to a less desirable housing building (after they brought him back from the airport when they almost deported him), has not been so great. He's a little afraid to tell me too much about the treatment as they are listening in on the phones and he doesn't want more retaliation. He's afraid if I call to complain they may do more to him as well. I know that he's wearing shoes too small, is sharing a room with another inmate w/ a snoring disorder, was not able to get things he'd purchased prior to going to the airport back from the building he previously stayed, that had nicer employees, etc (toothpaste, lotion, razor, food, etc). He wouldn't tell me everything and says he just wants the lawyer to visit him so that he can tell him all in person. The lawyer says he may have some connections in there that can help make things easier on Okili, we'll see, I hope so.
This is all very complicated and hard for everyone including me, to understand how it all works - there's no real paved road to follow here.
I also got a call from Melissa Redezno in Mike Thompson's office asking how his case is going, which was very nice of her. She wants to be kept informed.
I had a second interview with Ida Johnson on her Santa Rosa Media Center TV program "What's Hot" if anyone got a chance to see it. It may replay if you check their schedule.
Okili would like letters of Affidavit. Basically that's a one page letter of your support and how you've known him, etc. to whom it may concern. Especially if you've known him any length of time in the community, that would be great. I was thinking you could send letters directly to the lawyer, and email them to me (via private post here, unless you want it public) so I can print them and mail them to Okili.
Here's the Lawyer's address:
Law office of Richard LaPaglia
515 N. Main Street
Eloy, AZ 85231
Thanks so much for your help to us!
Sabrina Krauss