BIRC holds press conference + rally in support of halting Shamir Ali’s deportation

On Wednesday, October 19, ICE picked up 25-year-old Shamir Amirali Ali in a workplace raid in Florida.

Shamir can be deported to Bangladesh any day because of a previous deportation order. He is currently being held at the Broward Detention Center in Florida. His lawyers have filed a deferred action request, but we have not heard back from ICE on whether it will be honored.

On Tuesday, BIRC, along with a group of community leaders, activists, and Dreamers held a national day of action across the US: Boston, MA; New Haven, CT; Memphis, TN; Nashville, TN; Yadkinville, NC; Austin, TX; and Washington, DC.

Two members of BIRC: Alejo, and Deivid spoke about Shamir’s case and how what happened to Shamir could happen to any undocumented youth at any time-“We Are All Shamir.” Victoria Ruiz, member of the Olneyville Neighborhood Association and the “Todos Somos Arizona” (We Are All Arizona) coalition spoke of the larger struggle for immigrant rights and the urgent need for Obama to halt deportations.

Over 60 students and community members attended the press conference.

Check out the press coverage below:
http://news.providencejournal.com/breaking-news/2011/10/photo-brown-stu.html#.Tqw5ak9aSKw

http://news.providencejournal.com/breaking-news/2011/10/brown-coalition.html#.Tqw5dE9aSKw

Below are some images of the press conference:

Alejo

Deivid

Victoria

Folks signing the petition to halt Shamir’s deportation