WALTER LARA, HONOR STUDENT FACING DEPORTATION SPEAKS TO MEDIA

 
WALTER LARA, HONOR STUDENT FACING DEPORTATION SPEAKS TO MEDIA
WHAT: Press Availability with Walter Lara, 23. Featured by the New York Times,
    Lara came to the US from Argentina 20 years ago and is facing      
    deportation on July 6, 2009.
 
WHEN: Tuesday, June 30, 2009 starting at 10:30am EST
                  Or by appointment
WHERE: First Focus Offices
                     1110 Vermont Avenue, NW
                     Suite 900
                     Washington, DC 20005
 
WASHINGTON, DC – Tomorrow Walter Lara, a 23 year-old honor student facing deportation, will be made available to speak with reporters about his life living as an American. Featured briefly in editorials by the New York Times and Miami Herald, Walter, for the first time, will tell his story to the national media before he is scheduled to be deported from the United States on 4th of July weekend.
 
Lara graduated from Miami Dade college with honors, and graduated from high school with an astounding 4.7 GPA and more than 1,000 hours of community service. He has never been arrested; his record is impeccable. However, because his family immigrated from Argentina when he was three years old, he is undocumented – a fact the he only learned a few years ago while applying to college.
 
This intelligent, articulate, and clean-cut young professional will share his story with members of the media to raise awareness of his situation. He was raised as an American from age three and knows no other country but this one.  His permanent deportation is imminent. 
 
Florida Senator Bill Nelson has written a letter to Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement urging a review Walter’s case and stay the deportation. In addition, Congresswoman Corrine Brown (D-FL) has introduced a “personal bill” to halt Walter’s deportation. Walter’s only hope to remain in this country is through a review of his case by the Department of Homeland Security by this Thursday, July 3rd.
 
Click Here to read more about Walter Lara or visit http://www.firstfocus.net/pages/3608   
To schedule an interview, please contact:
Christopher Spina at chriss@firstfocus.net 
202.657.0677 or at 202.674.2450 (mobile)
 
Background:
The DREAM Act, introduced into the House and Senate on March 26, would prevent the situation facing Walter Lara today, by providing legal status for young people who were brought to the U.S. years ago as undocumented immigrant children through no fault of their own. For the estimated 2 million high school graduates effected, who continue on to college or military service, the DREAM Act would provide a pathway to legal residency.