PETITION CLOSED

  • The time period for signing this petition has ended.
  1. Signatures
    257 out of 500
    Petitioning
    1. Sen. Olympia Snowe (+ 7 others)
      Petitioning
      close
      • Sen. Olympia Snowe (ME)
      • Sen. Susan Collins (ME)
      • Rep. Chellie Pingree (ME-01)
      • Asst Secretary of ICE (John Morton)
      • Chief of Staff, Collins (Liz Johnson)
      • Deputy Chief of Staff, Collins (Jen Burita)
      • Chief of Staff, Snowe (John Richter)
      • Legislative Counsel, Snowe (Ron Lefrancois)
  2. Created By
    Prerna Lal
    Washington, DC
About this Petition Petition Letter

Selvin Arevalo came to Portland, Maine, from Guatemala when he was 14 years old. Just before he was set to get his high school diploma and enroll in college, he was detained after getting into a minor car accident and fleeing for a few minutes in a panic over his immigration status.

Selvin has been an exemplary member of his community. He is hard working, a committed student, and a faithful member of his church. His community has risen up around him to try and get him released from detention and to stop his deportation.

What You Can Do

1. Sign this petition directed to DHS and Selvin's Congressional members in Maine


2. 202-282-8495 - Call Janet Napolitano, Director of DHS, and ask that Selvin Arevalo (A# 087 766 431) be released from detention in Cumberland County Jail and that his deportation be deferred . NOTE: This is an answering machine, once it is full it is out of commission for day. Fill it up now with support for Selvin.

3. 202-732-3000 - Call Assistant Secretary to ICE, John Morton and leave a message urging him to take action, release Selvin Arevalo (A# 087 766 431) and defer his deportation: NOTE: this is a live comment line. A human being will pick up and take your message. Be very polite and say “I am calling to leave a message of support for Selvin Arevalo who is currently being detained in Cumberland County Jail in Portland, Maine. I would like to ask that director John Morton release Selvin Arevalo (A# 087 766 431) from detention and defer his deportation."

4. Call Senator Olympia Snowe at both her local office (207-874-0883) and her D.C. office (202-224-5344). Ask what Sen. Snowe's stance on the DREAM Act is, and if she will support releasing Selvin Arevalo (A# 087 766 431) from detention and deferring his deportation. If you are from Maine, make sure you tell them your address and exactly where your from.

5. Call Senator Susan Collins at both her local office (207-780-3575) and her D.C. office (202-224-2523). Ask what Sen. Collin's stance on the DREAM Act is, and if she will support releasing Selvin Arevalo (A# 087 766 431) from detention and deferring his deportation. If you are from Maine, make sure you tell them your address and exactly where your from.

6. Call Congresswoman Chellie Pingree at both her local office (207-774-5019) and her D.C. office (202-225-6116). Ask what Rep. Pingree's stance on the DREAM Act is, and if she will support releasing Selvin Arevalo (A# 087 766 431) from detention and deferring his deportation. If you are from Maine, make sure you tell them your address and exactly where your from.

Recent Signatures

Don't Deport Selvin Arevalo (A# 087 766 431)

Greetings,

I am writing to request that Selvin Arevalo (A# 087 766 431) be released from detention in Cumberland County Jail and that his deportation be deferred.

Selvin Arevalo came to Portland, Maine, from Guatemala when he was 14 years old. Just before he was set to get his high school diploma and enroll in college, he was detained after getting into a minor car accident and fleeing for a few minutes in a panic over his immigration status.

Selvin has been an exemplary member of his community. He is hard working, a committed student, and a faithful member of his church. In no way does he deserve detention and deportation from the United States.

Selvin and other immigrant youth like him who hold so much promise, can also be helped by the federal DREAM Act (S.729), which is currently sitting in the Senate Judiciary Committee. Senator Lugar and Durbin recently sent a letter to DHS urging the agency to refrain from deporting DREAM Act eligible students.

If Congress fails to act on the DREAM Act this year, another entire class of outstanding, law-abiding high school students will graduate without being able to plan for the future, and like some will be removed from their homes to countries they barely know. This tragedy will cause America to lose a vital asset: an educated class of promising immigrant students who have demonstrated a commitment to hard work and a strong desire to be contributing members of our society.

I join others in urging you to intervene in Selvin’s case immediately and halt his deportation. I also hope and humbly request Senator Collins and Senator Snowe, both of whom voted in favor of cloture on the DREAM Act in 2007, to go a step further and cosponsor the bill.

[Your name]

Press Inquiries