UIC student's deportation halted

Homeland Security will stay proceedings for one year

12/23/2009 10:00 PM

By JESSICA BINSCH
Medill News Service

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Rigoberto Padilla will remain in Chicago for another year. He is pictured here at a press conference outside of the city council chambers on Nov. 13. The council later passed a resolution in his support.
Jessica Binsch/Medill

Rigoberto Padilla, a junior at the University of Illinois-Chicago and an undocumented immigrant, will be allowed to stay in Chicago for one more year.

Padilla was set to be deported to Mexico on Dec. 16, but the Department of Homeland Security deferred his deportation.

“It’s definitely a really big victory for Rigo and hopefully for other undocumented students,” said Beatrize Sandoval, who was the associate counsel in Padilla’s case. “It takes really exceptional circumstances to get this kind of decision.”

She said Padilla has lived in Chicago most of his life, being brought here by his parents at age six.

“I’m really excited, really happy,” said Jocelyn Sida of the Immigrant Youth Justice League just after the news broke. She added, “I’m going to call Rigo. I’m still in shock.”

Padilla’s case has attracted attention near and far over the last few months.

Earlier this year, police pulled Padilla over for driving through a stop sign. He was charged with driving under the influence.

Police reported his undocumented status to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which began deportation proceedings.

A broad range of supporters campaigned for Padilla. Both the Chicago and Berwyn city councils passed resolutions in support of him, and U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Chicago) introduced a resolution in the House on Padilla’s behalf.

“Obviously, she’s thrilled,” said Trevor Kincaid, a Schakowsky spokesman. “She’s been working on this for quite a long time.”

Kincaid added that Padilla’s case has broader implications.

“It really underscores the need for comprehensive immigration reform more than anything,” he said.

Not everyone is happy with the outcome.

“We believe this sends a bad message,” said Dave Gorak, executive director of the Midwest Coalition to Reduce Immigration. “He shouldn’t be in the country in the first place, and now he’s getting even more consideration ... This says that the rule of law doesn’t apply to certain individuals.”


2 Comments - Add Your Comment



By BajaRat from Ma'alaea Bay
Posted: 12/25/2009 1:27 PM

'Sanctuary city' policies violate federal law. This border-jumping jerk was caught driving drunk. He should have been deported long ago.


By Allicia
Posted: 12/24/2009 4:26 PM

This story doesn't add up - Chicago is a sanctuary city and police cannot initiate anything like this through reporting the status of an illegal immigrant to U.S. immigration.