Greenwich Village Gazette

By Donna Lamb

Undeterred by the bone chilling weather, on Jan. 27, about thirty religious leaders congregants and community activists gathered in front of 26 Federal Plaza in Manhattan to urge Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Field Office Director, Christopher Shanahan, to grant Roxroy Salmon (above with grandson Elijah) discretionary relief from deportation.

For Roxroy Salmon, a 52-year-old Brooklyn father and grandfather, is facing removal proceedings back to Jamaica because of minor drug convictions from over 20 years ago – never mind the fact that he went on to live an exemplary life in this country for the past thirty years while raising his four US-born citizen children.

As explained by Manisha Vaze (left), an organizer with Families for Freedom, an organization by and for immigrant families facing deportation, in order to fight his deportation, Mr. Salmon has applied for discretionary relief called "deferred action," in which ICE deprioritizes the enforcement of immigration laws on individuals such as Mr. Salmon. This effectively allows them to stay in this country for years before they enforce the deportation order. If Director Shanahan, the one person with the power to grant Roxroy Salmon deferred action, does so, Salmon will be able to stay in the US, close to his family and loved ones.

Since Thanksgiving, Salmon’s supporters have been collecting petitions and letters of support from college students, community members, school children, religious leaders and elected officials. In less than two months, more than 500 people have signed petitions pledging their support of Mr. Salmon’s family, and dozens of letters have been sent to Shanahan, including a letter from Congressman Edolphus Towns.

In his letter, Towns noted, "Roxroy Salmon is the primary care taker and provider in the lives of three of his American citizen children, each of whom live with him and rely on him for their basic needs and nurturing. Mr. Salmon also has a granddaughter for whom he provides care. If Mr. Salmon were not to be present, these children would most certainly suffer."

When Salmon speaks of his children, his love for them is evident. "I live and breathe for my children," he said. "I teach them to be good human beings; to love God, themselves and their neighbors."

When asked about the effect this threat of deportation has on his children, Salmon said that it’s hardest on his youngest child, Elijah, who is 12. "At night he tells me he can’t sleep because he’s worried," Salmon revealed. "He says he doesn’t want them to put the ankle bracelet on my leg, and he doesn’t want me to go back to Jamaica and leave him. I tell him everything is going to work out."

When asked about the toll this case takes on him, Roxroy Salmon replied, "If it weren’t for my faith in God, I don’t know how I would survive. I can’t work to take care of my family, I’m getting older and I have goals I want to accomplish – like getting my doctorate in theology in five years – but here I am fighting this case, and my life is just going by. So I just have to keep the faith; what else can I do? At least I have Families for Freedom beside me, and my children know I’m not a criminal, not a danger to my community."

Janis Rosheuvel, director of Families for Freedom, stated, "Under current immigration law, people like Roxroy have very limited options for stopping their deportation. Families for Freedom and our allies are pushing for legislation that would keep families together, like the Child Citizen Protection Act. We are here to demand justice for Roxroy’s family and for all families in New York who have loved ones facing deportation."

Also present at the vigil were members of the New Sanctuary Movement, a national coalition of religious leaders and congregations who accompany immigrant families facing deportation. Vigil participants took part in prayers, songs and chants while holding posters with such messages as, "Immigrant Rights Are Human Rights" and "We Love Roxroy." The crowd also sang a song written by a member of First Presbyterian Church and set to the tune of "Roxanne" by The Police. They belted out lyrics such as, "Roxroy, you’re not gonna lose your human rights/ Those days are over/ We’re here to stand up and help you fight!"

For more information about Roxroy Salmon’s immigration case and/or to find out how you can help sustain his family, please contact Families for Freedom at (646) 290-5551, www.familiesforfreedom.org  or the New Sanctuary Coalition at (212) 477-0351, www.newsanctuarymovement.org .

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