Eric Balderas, 19, Harvard Sophomore was arrested by ICE in San Antonio Texas Airport for being in the U.S. illegally. Photo credit: Facebook.com
By H. Nelson Goodson
June 20, 2010
San Antonio, Texas - On Friday, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials (ICE) confirmed that Harvard University undocumented student detained on June 7 in San Antonio while trying to board a plane to Boston won't be deported. ICE spokesman Brian P. Hale confirmed, the immigration deportation proceedings against Eric Balderas, 19, has been granted deferred action due to the merits of the case. Balderas could not comment on the ICE decision, but is expected to apply for a work permit and then U.S. residency.
ICE on Friday notified U.S. Senator Richard Durbin's Office of Illinois, that they were no longer pursuing Balderas’s deportation said Max Gleischman, a spokesman for Durbin. Durbin a Democrat was involved in the case on behalf of Balderas.
Balderas was brought to the U.S. illegally by his parents at the age of 4. Balderas is originally from the city of Acuña in the State of Coahuila in Mexico. He grew up in San Antonio, Texas and graduated from Highlands High School.
He used his Mexican citizenship passport to travel within the country until he lost it. He tried to use his Harvard student identification when traveling from San Antonio to Boston at the airport. ICE officials were alerted by TSA and Balderas was arrested, but released the next day.
Balderas while being placed in an ICE vehicle handcuffed and reality set in, he thought that no one could do anything for him. Balderas said "at the time, I was actually thinking of suicide," during an interview with Harvard Crimson.
ICE decision allows Balderas a path for legalization. His immigration case and experience provides an example to continue pushing for the DREAM Act to be approved by Congress. The act would provide a path for legalization and citizenship for undocumented students who excel in high school and continue through college and register for military service.
Balderas a sophomore is studying molecular and cellular biology at Harvard University and hopes to become a cancer researcher. He qualified for privately funded scholarship funds to study as an undergraduate, according to Harvard administrators. Harvard University offered him a $50,000 scholarship to attend the university, according to Balderas.
Balderas posted the following Facebook message at 'Keep Eric Home' fan page. He stated, “I am humbled and extremely grateful for all the support that have received from all of my friends, my community, Harvard, and people that didn’t even know me. I feel very relieved that I will have the opportunity to continue my studies at Harvard; pure and simple, I am rejoicing in my heart! Every day, reading all of your comments and notes of support really gave me hope and kept me going. From the bottom of my heart, I give you my deepest gratitude. There are many other young, undocumented student that find themselves in my situation. All of these students are stil struggling and, like all other Americans, we are also contributing members of society that have a lot to offer to this country. We must pass the DREAM Act because it’s the only thing that will keep us here where we belong. This is only a small victory but the sense of urgency for passing the DREAM Act now should not be taken away."
He is expected to appear in front of an immigration judge on July 6.
Interview with Eric Balderas after ICE arrest on Youtube link: http://bit.ly/bmdN2q
Connected by MOTOBLUR™ on T-Mobile
By H. Nelson Goodson
June 20, 2010
San Antonio, Texas - On Friday, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials (ICE) confirmed that Harvard University undocumented student detained on June 7 in San Antonio while trying to board a plane to Boston won't be deported. ICE spokesman Brian P. Hale confirmed, the immigration deportation proceedings against Eric Balderas, 19, has been granted deferred action due to the merits of the case. Balderas could not comment on the ICE decision, but is expected to apply for a work permit and then U.S. residency.
ICE on Friday notified U.S. Senator Richard Durbin's Office of Illinois, that they were no longer pursuing Balderas’s deportation said Max Gleischman, a spokesman for Durbin. Durbin a Democrat was involved in the case on behalf of Balderas.
Balderas was brought to the U.S. illegally by his parents at the age of 4. Balderas is originally from the city of Acuña in the State of Coahuila in Mexico. He grew up in San Antonio, Texas and graduated from Highlands High School.
He used his Mexican citizenship passport to travel within the country until he lost it. He tried to use his Harvard student identification when traveling from San Antonio to Boston at the airport. ICE officials were alerted by TSA and Balderas was arrested, but released the next day.
Balderas while being placed in an ICE vehicle handcuffed and reality set in, he thought that no one could do anything for him. Balderas said "at the time, I was actually thinking of suicide," during an interview with Harvard Crimson.
ICE decision allows Balderas a path for legalization. His immigration case and experience provides an example to continue pushing for the DREAM Act to be approved by Congress. The act would provide a path for legalization and citizenship for undocumented students who excel in high school and continue through college and register for military service.
Balderas a sophomore is studying molecular and cellular biology at Harvard University and hopes to become a cancer researcher. He qualified for privately funded scholarship funds to study as an undergraduate, according to Harvard administrators. Harvard University offered him a $50,000 scholarship to attend the university, according to Balderas.
Balderas posted the following Facebook message at 'Keep Eric Home' fan page. He stated, “I am humbled and extremely grateful for all the support that have received from all of my friends, my community, Harvard, and people that didn’t even know me. I feel very relieved that I will have the opportunity to continue my studies at Harvard; pure and simple, I am rejoicing in my heart! Every day, reading all of your comments and notes of support really gave me hope and kept me going. From the bottom of my heart, I give you my deepest gratitude. There are many other young, undocumented student that find themselves in my situation. All of these students are stil struggling and, like all other Americans, we are also contributing members of society that have a lot to offer to this country. We must pass the DREAM Act because it’s the only thing that will keep us here where we belong. This is only a small victory but the sense of urgency for passing the DREAM Act now should not be taken away."
He is expected to appear in front of an immigration judge on July 6.
Interview with Eric Balderas after ICE arrest on Youtube link: http://bit.ly/bmdN2q
Connected by MOTOBLUR™ on T-Mobile
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