Immigration officials sought to deport Arango to Colombia. Arango, a truck driver from Elizabeth, New Jersey, has lived in the United States for 22 years. Like thousands of other immigrants, the government’s case against him was based on a prior felony conviction five years ago.

Leading up to his deportation hearing, 150 people added their names to a letter, which Arango presented to the judge, urging a halt to the deportation proceedings.

Some 30 relatives and friends packed the hearing room June 13. The judge ordered all but Arango’s wife and children to a waiting room down the hall. When Arango walked out of the hearing victorious, friends and family erupted in applause and cheers.

After reading about the case of Róger Calero (see article ‘Houston activists prepare Calero victory tour’ in this issue) in the newspaper Hoy in January and looking for effective ways to fight his deportation, Arango and his family attended a meeting the next day in New York City in defense of Calero. A few weeks later, Arango spoke about his case at a similar meeting, organized by supporters of Calero’s antideportation fight, held in Newark.

On the invitation of Calero, who just won a similar victory against the government’s attempt to deport him, Arango will share the platform with Calero at a July 7 victory meeting in Newark, scheduled to take place at the Hospital Workers Union Local 1199J union hall.  
 
 
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