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Old Media And DHS Ignore Herta While Sen. Carl Levin Writes Letter In Support

by: kyledeb

Mon Aug 17, 2009 at 07:23:40 AM EDT


(A Michiganian named Herta Llusho is about to be deported. Herta's story is a fine example of what is wrong with our current immigration and refugee policy. - promoted by rich)

If you have not heard of Herta Llusho, yet, she has published her story in blogs far and wide.  I also recommend you read my post on why Herta's story is so important.  More importantly, though, please take the following actions in support of Herta.

It appears social media has beat out old media, yet again.  Since Herta Llusho's story was first published by dreamactivist.org on August 11, 2009, over 2,000 people have both signed a change.org petition and joined a facebook group in support of her.  19 different blogs, both large and small, have covered her case.  I encourage politicians from Michigan to check out that list of blogs because many of their constituents are leaving comments on them. 

Despite all of this social media activity, not a single traditional media outlet has reported on Herta's case.  Fortunately, politicians don't wait on old media anymore.  They listen to their constituents voices, amplified by social media.  That is why I am excited to report, with the heroic assistance of Josh Bernstein from SEIU, that U.S. Senator Carl Levin (D-MI) has written a letter in support of Herta Llusho.

Update! ... Detroit Public Radio has picked up this story and is running a segment on it here shortly. At the tail end of it, I'll be talking about the role of new media in breaking news and telling untold stories. (Eric B.)
kyledeb :: Old Media And DHS Ignore Herta While Sen. Carl Levin Writes Letter In Support
Levin's letter is not as passionate as previous letters in support of DREAMers, but Levin's support is unmistakable.  Levin asks John Morton, Assistant Secretary of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, to "give all due consideration to the Llushos' Deferred Action request and grant a favorable exercise of prosecutorial discretion."  You can read the full letter here (pdf). 

We've moved a U.S. Senator and traditional media has yet to cover this?  What a disgrace.  I hope the media will show up in force to tomorrow's community gathering in support of Herta.  Here is the relevant information for all that are interested in going:

Date: Monday, August 17, 2009
Time: 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Location: Hope Community Church of Detroit
Address: 14456 East Jefferson Ave.

For more information contact mo[at]dreamactivist[dot]org or call 734-262-9705
Facebook (16 August 2009)

Even more disgraceful has been the refusal on behalf of ICE's Khaalid Walls to comment on Herta Llusho's case.  I called ICE's Detroit Office of Public Affairs for comment on Thursday, August 13, 2009 at 313-226-0726.  Khaalid Walls answered and told me to contact him at khaalid.walls@dhs.gov so that he could get back to me.  I have emailed and called him multiple times since then, but he has refused to get back to me.  This is typical of DHS accountability and transparency.   I would have hoped that this would have changed under the Obama administration but it is clear that it hasn't.  I have given up, now, though, so others are free to call and email on my behalf to try and get answers.  This is not as important, however, as taking these actions.

I wrote far and wide to ask bloggers to cover Herta's story and several ask me to get back to them with additional details that Herta hadn't expounded upon in her story.  Specifically, Herta and her mother both came to the United States on a tourist visa and applied for asylum in the United States, which is what Herta refers to when she says the she has struggled "through more than seven years of legal proceedings." 

In the process, the U.S. has become Herta's home, and she has excelled at school.  Her brother, Lirjon is in the U.S. on a student visa, which is something that is not possible for Herta to apply for.  Again, if you haven't read Herta's story, yet, I recommend that you do.  I also recommend you read my post on why Herta's story is so important.  More important than all of this is that you take the following actions.
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Old Media And DHS Ignore Herta While Sen. Carl Levin Writes Letter In Support | 4 comments
I heard you on the radio, Eric (0.00 / 0)
Update! ... Detroit Public Radio has picked up this story and is running a segment on it here shortly. At the tail end of it, I'll be talking about the role of new media in breaking news and telling untold stories. (Eric B.)

It would have been nice if you had mentioned dreamactivist.org, citizenorange.com, or the broader pro-migrant sanctuarysphere that has been so influential at pushing cases like Herta's, but I'm just glad this story is getting out there.

Thank you for this important post! (4.00 / 3)
I read the decision denying Herta's mother's asylum claim, and quite frankly it was one of the more arbitrary decisions I've read (and I've read a lot). Other asylum seekers have had their claims denied but are not deported, and there is no reason why Herta and her mother cannot be granted the same opportunity. As a progressive community, this is an important issue for us to care about and take action on.
WDET (4.00 / 2)
You can listen to an MP3 of the interview with Herta and her brother (followed by Eric B) here on the show Detroit Today.

It's great that a mainstream outlet like WDET is picking up on the story. Hopefully, some more pressure can be brought to bear on DHS to reverse or at least halt her deportation.

Excellent! (0.00 / 0)
Thanks for the mp3!
[ Parent ]
Old Media And DHS Ignore Herta While Sen. Carl Levin Writes Letter In Support | 4 comments

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