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ASAN is LIVE at an emergency hearing in the administration’s decision to deport critically ill children. #DeferredAction #HoldUSCISAccountable
Today’s panel includes Maria Isabel Bueso, Jonathan Sanchez,
@shobawadhia (Director @ Center for Immigrants’ Rights Clinic at Penn State), Fiona Danaher MD, MPH (pediatrician @ MGH Chelsea Pediatrics) and Anthony Marino (Director of Immigrant Legal Services at @iiicenter)
@shobawadhia (Director @ Center for Immigrants’ Rights Clinic at Penn State), Fiona Danaher MD, MPH (pediatrician @ MGH Chelsea Pediatrics) and Anthony Marino (Director of Immigrant Legal Services at @iiicenter)
You can read more about Maria Isabel Bueso’s case here: google.com/amp/s/www.buzz… #DeferredAction #HoldUSCISAccountable
You can read more about Jonathan Sanchez’s case here: google.com/amp/s/www.nyti… #DeferredAction #HoldUSCISAccountable
Ending the acceptance and adjudication of non-military #DeferredAction requests forces families to make an impossible choice: remain in the shadows and opt not to seek life-saving relief or risk deportation. ow.ly/s3jm30puhOi
On Sept 2 @USCIS announced it would reopen #DeferredAction requests that were pending as of August 7. While this will grant some families temporary consolation, it does not solve the fundamental problem. Read this sign-on letter to learn more. ow.ly/s3jm30puhOi
“Last month, without notifying Congress, @USCIS began #DeferredAction...and cast out some of our most vulnerable people, to be sentenced to death.” says our host, the chairman of the Oversight committee
“According to doctors, 33 days (deportation notice) is not nearly enough to ensure continuity of care.”
“The administration must immediately and completely reverse this policy. There is no excuse for the recklessness displayed by our government.”
Maria Isabel Bueso is 24 years old. She came from Guatemala for a clinical trial that would save her life. She is now testifying.
At the time that she came, there were no resources for her condition. She says it is an honor and a privilege to participate in trials that would help the next generation of people with her disease.
Maria Isabel Bueso’s doctors say without continuing, lifesaving treatment, her health will decline quickly. #DeferredAction
“I’m a human being. I want to live. I’m grateful for the opportunities that this country has given me.” Maria Isabel Bueso
“This is not a partisan issue. This is a nonpartisan issue.” Maria Isabel Bueso
Jonathan Sanchez, a young man with cystic fibrosis from Honduras, testifies to the nature of his condition. When he lived in Honduras, his sister passed away because there was not care available for her cystic fibrosis.
His family worries that if he goes back, he will die.
His family worries that if he goes back, he will die.
The doctors of Boston children’s hospital say that Jonathan Sanchez cane to the USA literally dying. With medication not available in his country, he was given the chance to live.
He says he takes a nebulizer and “tons of medication” for his cystic fibrosis.
Since he was told he has 33 days to leave the country, he told his parents, “I don’t want to die.” #DeferredAction
Since he was told he has 33 days to leave the country, he told his parents, “I don’t want to die.” #DeferredAction
“Deporting sick kids like me is (sending us to our death).” Jonathan Sanchez
Shoba Sivaprasad Wadha, of Penn State, talks about how #DeferredAction has long been a bipartisan issue, and previously operated largely informally.
Shoba Sivaprasad Wadha says over half the cases she’s examined in one dataset regarding #DeferredAction were sick or disabled. Many people in many of the datasets she has examined in deferred action are disabled.
“Who is served by putting a cancer patient who would ordinarily request deferred action into the deportation process? No one.” Shoba Sivaprasad Wadha
Fiona Danaher, pediatrician, shares the concerns of her fellow doctors. In one case, a child dealing with regular seizures would have died in their country of origin. Thanks to care in the US, they have lived a longer and better life.
She says for many, travel could be dangerous
She says for many, travel could be dangerous
Access to safe food and water is not guaranteed everywhere. Many chronically ill children die of malnutrition. Many immunocompromised children are at risk, says Fiona Danaher. #DeferredAction
“It is not hyperbole to say that for many children being deported is a death sentence.” Fiona Danaher #DeferredAction
“This is not just bad medicine. It is unconscionably inhumane.” Fiona Danaher
Anthony Marino of @iiicenter speaks about the people he represents who file for #DeferredAction. Many are injured, disabled, or recently diagnosed with a life threatening condition. Many cannot travel.
Many of the families cannot leave, says Anthony Marino. For many, #DeferredAction allowed their children to continue to receive care, and to survive. He was shocked when he received the first denial notice.
“The decision to terminate the program was done in secret. There was no opportunity to advocate for those impacted by the program.” Anthony Marino
@iiicenter
@iiicenter
“There are parents right now having conversations about whether to orphan a child, to give them a shot at being alive.” Anthony Marino
@iiicenter
@iiicenter
“There is no new procedure. There is no new plan. There is no plan to implement one. Some cases will be reconsidered, but we don’t know what this means for those families.” Anthony Marino
@iiicenter
@iiicenter
“#DeferredAction is a critical, life saving program. Unless Congress or the courts can compel USCIS to reinstate the program, we don’t know what happens next.” Anthony Marino
@iiicenter
@iiicenter
Maria Isabel Bueso confirms she came to the US another for her own treatment and to advance the treatment of others. Her case was filed in May. She received a letter August 13 saying she had to leave, and has since received a letter saying her case has been reopened.
Marino says he wouldn’t call it a reversal, because the repeal of the program hasn’t been undone, only that some of the cases have been reopened. #DeferredAction
Marino says “it’s been absolute chaos” for his clients, mentally, and that people are terrified for the lives of their children. #DeferredAction
Eleanor Holmes Norton says “Taking away something this important is unfathomable.”
Maria Isabel Bueso talks about the nature of her rare disability, and how treatment has allowed her to live a longer, better life.
Eleanor Holmes Norton says that clinical trials such as Maria Isabel Bueso’s are an asset to America.
Mr. Keller asks Shoba Sivaprasad Wadha and Anthony Marino if they’ve reached out to Congress to consider options for making #DeferredAction more codified or permanent.
Wadha says no, but that it could be of value. She says we will always need discretion to protect disabled kids.
Wadha says no, but that it could be of value. She says we will always need discretion to protect disabled kids.
Marino says his organization has tried to contact USCIS, and has essentially been told the program has ended.
Ms. Wasserman-Schultz emphasizes that Bueso and Sanchez are here to fight for their lives, and that that is unacceptable. She apologizes for that.
Bueso confirms that if she were to return to Guatemala, she would die. A letter on screen from her doctor confirms that fact.
“It’s terrifying to think (about dying). I’ve been praying a lot. It’s overwhelming and devastating.” Maria Isabel Bueso #DeferredAction
Jonathan Sanchez confirms that being deported would mean losing access to care and dying.
.@RepAOC thanks Maria Isabel Bueso & Jonathan Sanchez for their testimony, and says she validates their intrinsic value.
.@RepAOC says “This is a cruel policy change.”
.@RepPressley emphasizes that lives are on the line, and that it is “shameful” that the ending of #DeferredAction was done in secret.
.@RepCummings asks Bueso if this is a mortal situation. She says yes. She emphasizes that she has outlived her original prognosis, and is now 24. Leaving would mean death.
Maria Isabel Bueso describes being overwhelmed by being told she had 33 days to live. She describes being shaking and pale.
The panelists emphasize the uncertainty of the current situation.
Dr. Danaher emphasizes that, should she have been consulted regarding the issue, she would have emphasized that the letter of deportation is a source of huge stress and could harm the children and their families.
Bueso received the news of her deportation order on the way back from getting medical treatment. Rep. Gomez reminds us that 424 people received the same news. Bueso and Sanchez are here representing many people with disabilities or chronic illnesses who are impacted.
ASAN is a signatory to this letter currently being entered into testimony at the #DeferredAction hearing.
"No disabled child or adult or their family should face the certainty of death through deportation because of a change in leadership in Washington D.C. Let us not fool ourselves that their fight is not ours as well." dredf.org/2019/09/11/rei…
