|
Washington, D.C. - Culminating late tonight in the United States Senate, John Kerry led a successful, bipartisan 11th hour push to stay the deportation of a beloved Boston teacher. By introducing the Kerry bill in the Senate, sending a letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Chertoff and by reaching across party lines to work with Sen. Cornyn of Texas, beloved teacher Obain Attouoman will be allowed to stay in Boston until 2007. This long fight for a stay in Attouoman's deportation case was marked today by an emotional outpouring when several of Attouoman’s students traveled from Boston to Washington to meet with Kerry and Members of Congress.
“This is the right way to end a day spent by so many people fighting to keep Obain Attouoman at home in Boston. Democracy works best when we work across party lines, and I'm pleased to say that tonight Senator Cornyn has joined us in making it possible for a beloved teacher to stay with his students at least until 2007. It took real cooperation and genuine bipartisanship to overcome the Washington stalemate and make a difference, not only in the life of a teacher, but in the lives of the students who cherish their time with him. Tonight's victory sends a message that when we work together, our government can work for people,” Senator Kerry said.
“It’s a simple matter of doing what’s right for students and working to fix our broken immigration system,” Kerry added. "I'm grateful to the students of Fenway High School, Sen. Kennedy, Reps. Markey and Capuano, and Mayor Menino, as well as to Secretary Chertoff and Sen. Cornyn for a remarkable bipartisan team effort."
The Kerry private bill was submitted this afternoon and sparked a phone call from Secretary Chertoff and cooperation with Senator John Cornyn to do a report on Attouoman’s case. Senator Cornyn is the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security and Citizenship.
TIME LINE (For copies of the Cornyn report, Kerry letters, or any other supporting documents, please do not hesitate to contact us.)
* February 9 - John Kerry calls Bruce Chadbourne, regional director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement urging him to allow Obain Attouoman to stay in the U.S. permanently.
* March 1 - John Kerry, Senator Kennedy and Senator Levin write Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, urging him to allow Obain Attouoman to stay in the U.S. permanently.
* March 1 - Led by Fenway High School students, the NAACP, Mayor Menino, and Rep. Capuano, Massachusetts sends a message that Obain Attouoman must stay with his students in Boston.
* TODAY at 8:00 a.m. - John Kerry writes White House Chief of Staff Andy Card, urging him to review the matter with DHS and allow Obain Attouoman to stay in the U.S. permanently.
* TODAY at 11:00 a.m. - John Kerry meets with Fenway High students in his Washington office
* TODAY at 1:00 p.m. - John Kerry introduces private bill in the Senate to allow Obain Attouoman to stay in the U.S. permanently. Without Immigration Subcommittee Chairman John Cornyn (R-Texas) requesting a report, the deportation will continue as scheduled.
* TODAY at 4:45 p.m. - Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff calls John Kerry, saying he had read the letter Kerry sent, considered it, and will extend Mr. Attouoman's deportation by one week, to Friday, March 11.
* TODAY at 6:30 p.m. - John Kerry speaks with Senator Cornyn and asks him to consider requesting the report tonight.
* TODAY at 7:15 p.m. - Senator Cornyn tells John Kerry he will request the report to accompany Kerry's private bill, allowing Mr. Attouoman to stay in the U.S. through early 2007.
###
|
