Leahy, Sanders and Welch Join Vermonters to Stop VT Farmworker's Deportation: Lopez Submits Case for Prosecutorial Discretion with Strong Support
Posted Thu, 06/20/2013 - 10:03am
*** FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ***
Contact: Natalia Fajardo (802-497-7027), Brendan O’Neill (802-825-1609), www.migrantjustice.net, info@migrantjustice.net
Senators Leahy, Sanders and Congressman Welch Join Vermonters to Stop VT Farmworker's Deportation
Lopez Submits Case for Prosecutorial Discretion with Strong Support
BURLINGTON, VT, 6/19/13-- Migrant Justice delayed plans to submit official documentation on Monday that calls upon ICE to utilize prosecutorial discretion to stop the deportation of migrant farmworker leader "Danilo" Lopez. Instead they worked to move Senator Leahy's office to join Senator Sanders and Representative Welch in writing a letter of support for Danilo Lopez's case. It was worth the wait.
Today, Senator Leahy's staff sent the letter of support to Migrant Justice. The letter reads, "Legislation pending before the Senate could potentially resolve Mr. Lopez's current immigration case...This legislation is currently being debated in the Senate, and is not expected to be enacted before Mr. Lopez's ordered date of departure, July 5th...I urge you to use prosecutorial discretion." In his letter Congressman Welch says of Danilo, “his strong ties to Vermont …his commitment to improving opportunities for farmworkers…is why I am joining many Vermonters in weighing on his behalf."
Lopez's full prosecutorial discretion case is available here:
http://migrantjustice.net/sites/default/files/Request-for-PD-Daniel-Alej...
Support materials including the full letters from Senators Leahy, Sanders, and Welch are available here:
http://migrantjustice.net/sites/default/files/Daniel-Lopez-Santiago-supp...
The national campaign kicked off with an on-line petition just last week and has quickly gathered nearly 2000 signatures (check out NEW campaign video below).