Threatened with Criminal Charges for Fighting His Own Deportation
Ermes Antonio Cortez is a gay man who has been in immigration detention for over 3 months. He is currently detained at Irwin Detention Center in Ocilla, Georgia. If deported to El Salvador he could face anti-gay violence, and would not be able to receive the medical services that he needs.
Last week when Ermes reached out to the Georgia Latino Alliance for Human Rights (GLAHR) for support in his case, an immigration officer told him that if he continued to fight his deportation, he could get charged with a felony and spend 3-4 years in prison. After this threat, Ermes felt forced to sign for his own deportation.
Ermes was scheduled to be deported last week, but due to administrative issues he is still in detention. ICE still has discretion to stop his deportation and allow him to remain with his family.
At 16 years of age, Ermes left El Salvador after his father was killed during the war conflict and petitioned the U.S. Government for Political Asylum. Ermes’ life in the US has been spent working as a painter in order to financially support his younger sister and aunt, who lived in El Salvador. Ermes’ youth was not easy and often isolated. In 1997 while living in California, he was charged with driving under the influence and simple battery in separate occasions. In 1999, he was charged with a second charge of driving under the influence. These two misdemeanor charges from 16 and 18 years ago, are the only reason ICE considers him “priority” for deportation.
Ermes has a medical condition which requires specific medication at very specific times. During his detention, Ermes has to continuously and fiercely advocate for himself to obtain the proper medication and dosage. His health is constantly at risks the longer he is denied adequate medical treatment.
Please sign here to urge the Georgia ICE office to use discretion and stop his deportation.
Dear Assistant Field Office Directors J.D. Thorpe and Sean Ervin,
I am writing in support of the case of Mr. Ermes Antonio Cortez (A 073-944-262). Mr. Cortez is a gay man with a significant medical condition that requires specific medication, which Mr. Cortez has had a difficult tie in accessing. In addition, if deported he could face violence in El Salvador. I urge you to take these humanitarian concerns into consideration, and consider using prosecutorial discretion to stop his deportation. Mr. Cortez is currently detained at Irwin Detention Center in Ocilla, Georgia.
At 16 years of age, Mr. Cortez left El Salvador after his father was killed during the war conflict and petitioned the U.S. Government for Political Asylum.Mr. Cortez’ life in the US has been spent working as a painter in order to financially support his younger sister and aunt, who lived in El Salvador. Mr. Cortez’ youth was not easy and often isolated. In 1997 while living in California, he was charged with driving under the influence and simple battery in separate occasions. In 1999, he was charged with a second charge of driving under the influence.
In 2004, his immigration attorney failed to notify him of his immigration court date which led to the denial of his political asylum petition. While attempting to seek additional immigration relief, in 2010 he was arrested for driving with an expired license. After finalizing his pending probation for the 1999 charge, he was transferred over to immigration detention. After paying bond, he was released with an ankle monitor and required to appear at court on several occasions.
This past June, during one of this immigration court check-ins, he was detained and placed in deportation procedures. Mr. Cortez has been in Irwin Detention Center since then.
I urge you to take into consideration humanitarian concerns, and use prosecutorial discretion to stop his deportation.
Thank you,
[Signature]
Categories: Deportation Cases, Lost Cases