Posted:

Albany Democrat Herald

05/17/2005

“Fabian Ruiz was 19 when he first decided to seek work in the United States. He and a cousin waited until nightfall, then ducked through a hole in a fence separating Nogales, Mexico, from Nogales, Arizona. They stowed away on a freight train bound for Tucson, then caught a bus to Utah. Another bus took them to Portland. A week or so later, they had joined friends working on a Christmas tree farm in the Salem area.”

The Albany Democrat Herald, recently published an article featuring the case of Partner Raquel Hecht’s client, Mr. Fabian Ruiz, who is currently in removal proceedings in Immigration Court in Portland, Oregon.

Mr. Ruiz’ merits hearing was held Wednesday May 19, before the Immigration Judge in Portland to consider whether or not he should be granted cancellation of removal from the United States. If he is denied, he could be ordered deported to Mexico. Mr. Ruiz is married to a United States citizen with whom he has three children, ages 4, 2½ and 16 months. Each also has a 10-year-old son from a previous relationship. Mr. Ruiz is very active in his community and is afraid of the hardship it would cause his wife and children, if he were to be ordered deported.

The Judge did not issue a decision Wednesday but ordered that the case be set for another merits hearing to be held June 16th.

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