Deportation Prevention Advice

[paragraphs]

Reaching out to my flist here--anyone have any ideas?

My daughter's best friend Courtney's family took in a friend of their son's. His mother died, and his father abandoned him--sent him on a bus to Courtney's mom (who had moved from Las Vegas to Minnesota, but when they lived in Las Vegas the boy mostly lived with them).

The kid just turned 16. Turns out, he would've had to have been adopted at 15...which Courtney's mom VERY much wants. They were unable to accomplish that before his birthday thanks primarily to his father (who now can't be found), and now he is facing deportation to the Philipines.

He is 16. He has no family here but Courtney's, he has no family there. And, he is gay.

Any advice on how to keep him here would be appreciated. He has a lawyer and they are trying to do anything and everything they can but our government thinks it is more important to send a 16-year-old gay young man with no family or skills to a country he hasn't been to since he was a child.

Thanks flist--I have no idea how this kid can be saved and he is terrified, beyond terrified. I am heartsick for them all.

Comments

[shane-mayhem.livejournal.com]

I got this:

"immigration equality would be a good organization to contact (immigrationequality.org) - they may know if there's any possibility of trying to get him asylum (here's an article about someone from the philippines getting asylum based on sexual orientation: http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=28912)."

I hope this helps, too! :-/

[paragraphs.livejournal.com]

YES! It ALL is helping. I am so amazed by how everyone has reached out to help, even if it is just to say hey, I hope everything ends up okay.

passing this on too. Thank you Shane!

[shane-mayhem.livejournal.com]

You're welcome...I'm really hoping for the best.

Other people have also said to contact the National Center for Lesbian Rights (http://www.nclr.org) because, in spite of the name, they work with and for all sexual minorities.

Also, someone said that contacting the Philippines Embassy in D.C. might be a good idea, regarding what kind of legal claim the father or any other family back in the PI might have on the boy, and what is necessary from their end to have that claim relinquished...

Keep us posted!
<3

[paragraphs.livejournal.com]

Yes--someone else suggested trying to find out ahead of time what family is out there. The daughter tells me that the boy's mother supposedly had money, but the daughter was cut off when she came here with her husband.

I have to wonder if they wouldn't want to know about him...it is hard, but I think it is smart to find out now who is over there, regardless if he stays here or not.

Sigh.