Perspective: 'Trump wants to deport me to Liberia — a country where I’ve never lived.'
By Yatta Kiazolu Yatta Kiazolu is Ph.D. candidate in history at the University of California, Los Angeles. She is one of 15 individual plaintiffs represented by the National Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law in Washington D.C., in a lawsuit challenging the termination of Deferred Enforced Departure . March 27 at 6:00 AM On Sunday, the United States government may force me to move to Liberia — a country that my family fled more than 25 years ago.
I was born in Botswana to parents who were Liberian nationals. In 1997, my father decided to move our family to Liberia, and my mother sent me, on a visitor visa, to live with my grandmother in Georgia to keep me safe from the country’s turmoil. She followed a month later, escaping the violence of the second civil war and their abusive marriage. We shared an apartment with my aunt, uncle, three cousins and grandmother.
Hearing commentators ask why immigrants don’t simply “do things the legal way” and “wait their turn” has only amplified my feelings of frustration and anger. All my life, I’ve been attempting to apply for U.S. citizenship or permanent residency. When I was growing up, getting my photo taken so that I could apply to the diversity lottery for a green card was an annual ritual, as predictable as school picture day. Our other path, family sponsorship, has also been fruitless. My grandmother, a U.S.
After the Trump administration first announced that it would not renew DED in 2018, it offered a one-year “wind-down” period, presumably so we could adjust and make plans. I didn’t even know where to begin.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
The president of the Philippines wants to rename his countryRodrigo Duterte, the perpetually disgruntled president of the Philippines, is unhappy about the name of his country
Read more »
Ex-Trump aide on prison: 'I had street cred' in 'Trump country'In his first ever interview on MSNBC, George Papadopoulos opens up to MSNBC Chief Legal Correspondent Ari Melber about the Mueller probe, days after it ended. They got into why Papadopoulos stands by his guilty plea, how he was downplaying his contacts with Russia to “distance himself” from “stupid activities” and why he would be “honoured” to receive a pardon from Trump. Papadopoulos also describes his experience in prison after being sentenced in the Mueller probe, noting he had “street cred” because the prison was in “Trump country”
Read more »
Perspective | Trump’s executive order on free speech is remarkably thin — but a signal to the rightEverything about the order suggests it's about sending a message to conservatives, not preserving robust debate across all universities.
Read more »
Perspective | Why Trump’s decision to intervene in campus speech policies is so dangerousTrump might be encouraging unrestricted speech. But he’s creating a method for others to do the opposite.
Read more »
Texas AG investigating Chick-fil-A's exclusion at airportAUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton says he's investigating a decision to exclude Chick-fil-A from an airport concession contract over opposition to the fast-food chain owners' record on LGBT issues.
Read more »
Perspective | Trump says he wants skilled immigrants. He’s about to stop 70,000 from working.The Trump administration wants to throw highly skilled immigrants out of work to create openings for American-born workers. It won't work.
Read more »
MLB notebook: A's 1B Olson out after hand surgeryOakland Athletics first baseman Matt Olson underwent surgery on his right hand F...
Read more »
Ichiro says goodbye to adoring fans; Mariners beat A's in 12Ichiro Suzuki was showered with cheers and chants Thursday night while taking his final bow in a magnificent career that lasted nearly three decades when the Seattle Mariners beat the Oakland Athletics 5-4 in 12 innings. The 45-year-old Ichiro went 0 for 4 in the second game of the Major...
Read more »
Perspective | ‘I’ve been in tears for days’: A Virginia organization that helps poor children will now — because of you — reach even morePerspective | 'I’ve been in tears for days': A Virginia organization that helps poor children will now — because of you — reach even more
Read more »
Opinion | Trump Country’s reaction to the Mueller report: ‘So what?’Opinion: Trump Country’s reaction to the Mueller report? 'So what?'
Read more »