Older refugees face special challenges

“These are people who came here when they were young and now they are older and have kids,” said Juan Carlos Ruiz, a founder of the church-based sanctuary movement who works in New York City as an organizer for Youth Ministries for Peace and Justice.

Often, older immigrants without legal status are targeted for deportation based on decades-old minor crimes or more recent traffic violations.

“These are people who have been here for many years and they presume they’re safe,” said Fred Boehrer, who organized the Albany NSM. “It’s a smaller group but they have a deeper pain and sense of shock because they’ve been here for 40 or 50 years.”

He mentioned one man, here for 51 years, who came as a child. Though his parents obtained green cards, they never were able to finish the process for their son, who still lacks permanent legal status. “Now he’s in deportation proceedings,” Mr. Boehrer said.

Activists suggested that older illegal immigrants get good legal advice, since what works for younger ones may not apply, and also keep or track down all the relevant government documents and papers. (CDR)