Here is an update to an October 26 story reported in this spot: Federal authorities decided to delay the deportation to Peru of 20-year-old Steve Li, who along with his China born parents were arrested in September for being illegal immigrants. Steve was scheduled to be deported today, Monday. Sin Yen Ling, an attorney with the Asian Law Caucus, the civil rights legal organization that is representating Steve Li, said she was notified by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement representatives that her client Steve Li would not be deported as planned, although she did not know why. She had applied to have Steve's deportation delayed, and is waiting to hear back from ICE officials to get more information.
Steve Li was born in Peru after his parents moved there in the 1980s from China for political and economic reasons. When he was 12 years old, Steve came to the United States with his parents who were on tourist visas. They applied for political asylum from China, but their application was denied some years ago. The parents as Chinese nationals, although being monitered by the government, are not likely to be deported at this time.
Pending U.S. legislation, The DREAM Act would give high school students who, as children entered the country illegally, the opportnity for legal residency. This path would mean that the students must spend two years in college or the military. The Asian Law Caucus is in favor of its passage. The Caucus reached out to Sen. Diane Feinstein and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Steve's behalf. Senator Feinstein's communications director has said the Senator's office had gotten in contact with ICE to explore all options, but nothing has been confirmed.
For now, Steve continues to be in a detention facility in Arizona.
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