Calls Lead To Man's Release From ICE Center (WDIV-MI)

Calls Lead To Man's Release From ICE Center
October 14, 2011

A Michigan Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center has released Francisco Ascencio after more than 600 calls for justice on his behalf. The release followed a campaign launched by a coalition of immigration rights advocates and the Alliance for Immigrants Rights and Reform Michigan.

A Michigan native for more than 13 years, Ascencio was detained by ICE following a routine traffic stop and spent seven weeks in an ICE facility away from his wife and three children. On Wednesday, AIR launched an email and social media campaign asking supporters to contact ICE, members of congress and/or President Barack Obama to demand relief for Ascensio. By Thursday, over 600 calls and messages resulted in Ascensio’s release.

ICE has stated they will hold off action on his case for one year, but after that his fate it unknown.

In August, the Obama administration announced a new deportation relief policy, which concentrates resources on prosecuting and deporting criminals. The move played a key part in the online campaign for Ascencio’s release; he has no criminal record. Despite the new policy which seeks to concentrate deportation efforts on criminals, families like Ascensios are still being torn apart, since new guidelines have not been released.

Although Ascencio has been reunited with his family, he can’t work or provide for them and his wife hasn’t found work in the past seven weeks. Their future remains uncertain until true reforms are made.