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To: Counselor to the Deputy Secretary - Serena Hoy and local FOD

Stop the Deportation of Prescott, Arizona Father!

We ask that Jesus Flores-Estrada be granted a stay of removal and be released from detention immediately because his life is at risk due to his medical condition. He is a loving husband to his wife Norma, and father of two U.S citizen children, Eric (age 9) and Alexander (age 2). He has lived in Prescott Valley, Arizona for two years, and the US for a total of 10 years.

Jesus moved to Idaho in 2013, where he worked hard at a dairy farm to be able to provide for his son and pregnant wife. He became sick with Q fever from working with cows. The virus spread to his spinal cord and brain. After spending months in and out of the hospital, he and his wife decided to move back to Arizona so they could be closer to family and friends. After suing the company, Jesus now receives the medicine he needs through workers comp, which we are unsure will continue if he is deported.

While in county jail and US Marshal custody at the CCA-owned Florence Correctional Center serving a sentence for ‘illegal re-entry’, Jesus did not get the necessary medical treatment and he became weak, nauseous, unable to walk, and hospitalized. Only with outside pressure was he taken to see a specialist and given his medication. Now Jesus continues to have symptoms, such as chest pain, dizziness and vomiting.

We are concerned that continued detention would be damaging and detrimental. According to his wife Norma, “Having Q fever while being in detention anywhere is life-threatening. He needs to be released to his family to get the proper medical treatment.”

Furthermore, a deportation would effectively be sending Jesus to his death because we do not believe he can have the same level of access to medication he has in the US.

Jesus is compassionate and family-orientated. In the two years that they have been in Arizona, Jesus has continued to receive medical treatment and take his medications. Even though his illness causes him to be sick regularly he works extremely hard. Jesus not only supports his family here but also his widowed mother who lives in Mexico by herself. In 2015, when his sister escaped from severe domestic abuse, Jesus provided housing, food, clothes and emotional support for her and her three children in their greatest time of need. To this day she still lives with them. Jesus is also an active member of the church; he is kind, friendly, and easy-going.

In 2009, Jesus was deported and missed a court date for civil charges, which then became criminal charges.

Additionally, Jesus also has the fear of being persecuted by the Mexican police if he is deported. In 2014, Jesus was a victim of police brutality in Mexico. He was with friends in a nearby town when authorities received a phone call erroneously stating that Jesus had guns in his possession. The authorities chased him and shot the vehicle he was driving multiple times. Jesus did not understand why the police were shooting and drove off to save his life and the life of his friends that were with him. One of the passengers was hit by one of the bullets but survived. The policeman that shot him did not notify supervisors until they became aware that someone had been hurt. Jesus believes that the policeman were shooting to kill because they were shooting at the body of the vehicle, and not just the tires. Jesus fears returning to Mexico, being targeted by the police, and not being able to survive another attack.

Mr. Flores-Estrada is not alone; he has strong community ties.
I ask that you stop the removal proceedings and allow Mr. Flores-Estrada to remain with his community in the US.

Thank you for your consideration of our wholehearted support for Mr. Flores-Estrada and a stop to his deportation.

Why is this important?

Jesus has a wife and two kids, ages 9 and 2, waiting for him at home in Prescott Valley, Arizona. Jesus is a compassionate and generous member of the community. Jesus has Q fever which means deportation would effectively be sending him to his death. We do not believe he would have the access to medication he needs. Also, Jesus has the fear of being persecuted by the Mexican police if he is deported. In 2014, Jesus was a victim of police brutality in Mexico. Jesus fears returning to Mexico, being targeted by the police, and not being able to survive another attack.

Please share this petition link widely so that we can get hundreds of signatures and help Jesus receive the proper medical treatment and avoid deportation to police state violence!

This campaign was brought to you in partnership between Freedom Education Fund and United We Dream.

Freedom Education Fund is a full-ride scholarship for students who are undocumented at Prescott College in Prescott, Arizona. FEF is a collaborative organizing campaign and platform for migrant justice and education equity. We have received national media attention and are the recipients of the 2015 Tom Pettit Social Justice Award.

United We Dream is the largest immigrant youth-led organization in the nation. Our powerful nonpartisan network is made up of over 100,000 immigrant youth and allies and 55 affiliate organizations in 26 states. We organize and advocate for the dignity and fair treatment of immigrant youth and families, regardless of immigration status.

Updates

2017-03-26 09:55:39 -0400

500 signatures reached

2016-12-14 20:11:21 -0500

100 signatures reached

2016-12-14 17:25:55 -0500

50 signatures reached

2016-12-14 15:07:27 -0500

25 signatures reached

2016-12-14 14:11:59 -0500

10 signatures reached