Representatives from a number of activist groups like Raíces en Tampa, Young American Dreamers, Florida Immigrant Coalition, Students for a Democratic Society and United We Dream Tampa Bay had planned for a Thursday evening rally outside of ICE's Tampa office to be the climax of their campaign in defense of David Sanchez, a Mexico-born Tampa resident who has lived in the United States since the age of fourteen and was scheduled to be deported Friday morning. However, after an organized call-in which sent more than 200 phone calls to the ICE office in Tampa opposing the deportation, Sanchez was granted an extension of three to six months. As the news spread and more than 70 people arrived on Thursday night, the gathering took on a celebratory air, albeit one that acknowledged that this was only a small victory towards their goal of “Not One More”.
“They're giving him an extension, they're giving him a few more months, and as happy as we are about that, we need to make sure that ICE, Homeland Security, people all across the spectrum need to understand that we don't need these deportations,” said Isabel Sousa-Rodriguez of the Florida Immigrant Coalition, addressing the crowd. “Not today, not tomorrow, not this week, not this month, never! No more deportations!”
Sanchez's story is unique in just how circumstances forced him to within hours of deportation to a country he hasn't seen since his youth. A construction worker in the Tampa area who is married to an American citizen with a daughter born in the United States, Sanchez found himself a target for deportation after a lawyer that he believed was helping him gain American citizenship filed a “voluntary departure” form without Sanchez's knowledge or consent. The lawyer has since been debarred for malpractice. From that point Sanchez was forced to wear a monitoring bracelet as he counted down to September 26, the day he was supposed to be deported.
Instead he joined his family, friends and supporters outside the office of the agency that was organizing his departure with the knowledge that he will be remaining in Tampa for at least a few more months, chanting slogans such as “Legalization for all”, “No more deportations”, “Not one more”, and “When we fight, we win!”. Sanchez briefly addressed the crowd in Spanish, thanking all for their support. Still, those closest to him were trying to comprehend how close Sanchez was to being deported.
“I don't think it is right that someone who has built their life here and raised their children here can be taken away from them, whether they be hispanic or non-hispanic,” said family friend of the Sanchez's, Jolene Smith tearfully to those gathered. “I know that he's a wonderful father and his daughter's a lovely little girl and I'm happy he can still be with her and he gets to support his family. I think it's a horrible thing that people can be taken away if paperwork is not done right.”
With so many grassroots organizations in attendance, and of course upcoming elections where immigration reform may play a factor, it was notable that no elected official or candidate was in attendance. The only politician who was contacted on the Sanchez matter that responded was Rep. Kathy Castor who according to Raíces en Tampa's Marisol Marquez, wrote in a letter that there was nothing she could do.
“Time and time again we have been told that if we just get the right people in office they will change things and make it the best for all of us,” said Marquez. “I tell those same people to bring us a politician here today! Right now! Bring us a politician who said they would do something to stop the deportation of David Sanchez! ... Today we have had enough. Tampa will not forget that no politician was here to help David Sanchez. Today we are thankful that you (those in attendance) are behind David Sanchez and his family and all of the immigrants across the country who are deported.”
President Barack Obama's decision to delay any action on immigration reform until after midterm elections was also roundly denounced.
Sanchez's fight to remain in the States and eventually gain citizenship, something he has been working towards since 2005, is still not guaranteed. Likewise, while the progress made by those who helped secure his extension brought celebration the immigration reform movement still sees a lot of work that needs to be done.
“We want to congratulate everyone for all of the hard work and at the last minute we organized,” said Daniel Barajas of the Young American Dreamers. “The last minute is not easy but this shows how important this is. There is still approximately 110 a day that still get deported. As long as there are people that are willing to fight, there is always hope. There are some veteran activists here, there is a new generation and there are some young ones. This isn't a problem that happened in one day. It's not going to be fixed in one day, but we're ready to fight.”