Youth Activist's Deportation Stayed; Youth Movement Saves One of Our Own

A lot of Future Majority readers no doubt heard about Andrea Huerfano, the 23-year-old democracy activist from Colombia arrested last week and detained. Andrea, a threat to no one but the forces of apathy, had moved to the U.S. with her family after her father was threatened with political violence. Her father died while waiting consideration of his asylum claims.

Last year, Andrea won a hard fought position as a PolitiCorps fellow, where she spent 80 hours per week registering young Americans to vote, a right she herself lacked. She went on to volunteer in Ohio in the fall of '08, continuing to register voters and kick ass for America.

The good news is that Andrea's deportation has been stayed. This happened because of actions of hundreds of young Americans, many of whom have had the pleasure of serving alongside Andrea. Here's the release the Oregon Bus Project just put out:

YOUNG ACTIVIST FREED FROM DETENTION FACILITY

YOUTH MOVEMENT COMES TO THE AID OF A YOUNG COMMUNITY ORGANIZER

Portland, OR – On December 8th, while paying a traffic ticket, 23 year-old community organizer Andrea Huerfano was detained at Broward Transitional Center in Pompano Beach, Florida, and faced imminent deportation. Thanks to the efforts of young organizers from a coalition led by Bus Project, PolitiCorps and Students Working for Equal Rights, Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced that she will be released this afternoon.

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Andrea's family fled from political threats in Colombia in 2001 with a valid visa, bringing her and her younger brother to the United States before her first year of high school. During her second year at Florida State University, while the family's political asylum was still being adjudicated, Andrea's father died of liver cancer. After his death, Andrea and her mother and brother pursued political asylum status based on his experiences in Columbia. They submitted their plea to immigration Judge Teofilo Chapa. Although the national average denial rate for applications for asylum is 58%, Judge Chapa denies 88% of the asylum claims before him. Their claim was denied.

After hearing word of her detention last Tuesday, an impromptu coalition of non-profits, advocates, students, lawyers and individuals from across the country came together in support of Andrea. Hundreds of people across the country were recruited to petition for Andrea’s release, putting phone calls into ICE offices in DC and Florida.

Andrea will be released on a "stay of removal" this afternoon and will have six months to assemble her case.

"We'll continue to work closely with her during this next phase, but for now – we just want to express how grateful we are for the incredible outpouring of support, advice, resources, time, and love," says Caitlin Baggott, Director of PolitiCorps, "Andrea deserves a chance to achieve her American dream."

Even as her status in the United States became increasingly uncertain Andrea continued to be an avid volunteer and community activist. She donated her time to numerous organizations, including Florida Immigrant Coalition and the DREAM Team coalition while a student at Florida State University. After graduating from Florida State University with a bachelors degree in international relations, she volunteered for five months with the International Labor Rights Forum and the International Rescue Committee, where she helped case workers work with with individuals who had been granted asylum. In the summer of 2008 she earned a competitive a Fellowship to participate in PolitiCorps, a prestigious political training program in Portland, Oregon.

“Andrea’s passionate commitment to American democratic values and her reliance and optimism in the face of adversity make her one of the most exceptional young leaders I have ever had the privilege of knowing,” says Alex Tischenko, a former supervisor of Andrea's, regarding her deep involvement in civic engagement. During her fellowship with PolitiCorps in 2008, she spearheaded efforts to educate low-income communities about criminal justice legislation in Oregon. She was considered one of the hardest-working and most promising Fellows in the program. Andrea continued on to support "get out the vote" efforts in Ohio during the 2008 general election.

For more information about the Andrea’s case, please contact Mollie Ruskin or Caitlin Baggott at the Oregon Bus Project at 503.233.3018

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Thank you, all, for your help.

To help more young Americans (citizen status pending), check out USSA's DREAM Act page.