- IN TONIGHT'S CLOSER LOOK, CONGRESSIONAL ATTEMPTS AT
PASSING AN IMMIGRATION BILL FAILED THIS WEEK.
AMONG THE MEASURES IN THE LEGISLATION WAS A RENEWED HOPE
FOR IMMIGRANTS ELIGIBLE FOR THE DEFERRED ACTION FOR CHILDHOOD
ARRIVALS PROGRAM.
ONE WAUKESHA MAN COULD HAVE BEEN ELIGIBLE FOR DACA BUT NOW FEARS
DEPORTATION.
MARISA WOJCIK HAS THE STORY.
- WHEN ALYSHA FERREYRA WOKE UP ON JUNE 11, SHE DIDN'T KNOW THAT
THE FATHER OF HER CHILDREN WOULD BE GONE BY THE END OF THE DAY.
- THERE YOU GO, HONEY.
NICE JOB.
- HER EX-HUSBAND, FREDERICA FR, WALKED INTO THE IMMIGRATION
OFFICE FOR A ROUTINE CHECK-IN, BUT DIDN'T WALK OUT.
HE WAS ARRESTED AND TAKEN TO THE DODGE COUNTY DETENTION FACILITY,
WHERE HE IS STILL BEING HELD.
HIS ATTORNEY, MATT LUENING, SAYS TECHNICALLY ICE WAS SEPARATING
WITHIN THE LAW, BUT IT WAS STILL A SURPRISE.
- HE WOULDN'T HAVE WALKED HIS CLIENT WILLINGLY INTO THE ICE
IMMIGRATION OFFICE IF HE KNEW THAT HIS CLIENT WAS GOING TO GET
DETAINED.
- FERREYRA CAME TO THE U.S. IN 2001, WHEN HE WAS JUST 13.
HE CAME ON THE VISA WAIVER PROGRAM, WHICH EXPIRED AFTER 90
DAYS.
HE'S LIVED IN WAUKESHA EVER SINCE AND ATTEMPTS AT FINDING A
LEGAL STATUS HAVE FAILED.
- WE GOT MARRIED IN 2011, WENT THROUGH THE PROCESS.
WE JUST GOT A DENIAL LETTER JUST SAYING THAT WE WEREN'T ABLE TO
GET HIS LEGAL RESIDENCY.
- FERREYRA'S ATTORNEY DOESN'T KNOW WHY IMMIGRATION BEGAN TO
PURSUE HIM NOW.
BUT HE HAS A THEORY.
IN SEPTEMBER OF LAST YEAR, FERREYRA WAS CITED FOR DRIVING
WITHOUT A LICENSE.
- FROM THERE, IT KIND OF SEEMED LIKE EVERYTHING KIND OF
SNOWBALLED INTO THE IMMIGRATION KIND OF, SHOWED UP AT HIS
SISTER'S HOUSE, AT HIS PLACE, AND AT HIS WORK.
- IMMIGRANTS' RIGHTS ADVOCATES WORRY THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT AND
IMMIGRATION OFFICIALS CAN USE MINOR TRAFFIC STOPS AS A CONDUIT
TO DEPORTATION.
BUT DAN BAUMANN OF THE WAUKESHA POLICE DEPARTMENT SAYS THAT'S
FAR FROM THE CASE.
A PERSON'S LEGAL STATUS IS IRRELEVANT WHEN IT COMES TO
ROUTINE CONTACTS, AND THEY DO NOT CHECK IN WITH ICE.
IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT ASSERTED THAT PEOPLE
WITH CRIMINAL RECORDS ARE MORE OF A CONCERN TO THEM.
THEY COULD NOT CONFIRM WHY FERREYRA CAME TO BE ON THEIR
RADAR.
BUT OTHER UNKNOWNS LOOM LARGER FOR FRANCO.
- HE'S BEEN HERE FOR 18 YEARS.
HE'S BEEN IN THE UNITED STATES LONGER THAN HE'S BEEN IN
ARGENTINA.
HE DOESN'T HAVE A HOME IN ARGENTINA.
HIS HOME IS HERE.
HIS KIDS ARE HERE.
HIS WHOLE LIFE IS HERE IN WISCONSIN.
- FERREYRA'S ATTORNEY IS HOPING A PENDING RULING BY A FEDERAL
JUDGE TO RENEW DACA APPLICATION WILL BE HIS BEST CHANCE AT
REMAINING IN HIS WISCONSIN HOME.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT DETENTION CENTERS IN WISCONSIN,
VISIT wiscontext.org.