Why this petition matters

Our Tigrayan brother Megos Ambaw Degene, is currently detained at Joe Corley Detention Center near Houston in Conroe, TX. He had a credible fear interview that resulted in a negative determination, which was unjust due to significant miscommunication and mistreatment throughout the process. During the credible fear interview, the interpreter provided inconsistent information which resulted in significant misunderstanding, preventing Megos from fully conveying the constant threats he faced in Ethiopia. 

After his interview, he did not receive a written copy of the credible fear determination, which would have helped him understand the decision and prepare him for the next steps. He was not informed about the negative decision beforehand, and this left Megos unable to clearly demonstrate to the judge where the misunderstandings occurred in the initial interview. Furthermore, Megos was not properly informed that he would be attending an appeal interview with a judge. Instead, he was simply told to go to a center, leading him to believe he would be listening to the results of his first interview.

This lack of clear communication added to the ineffectiveness of his second interview.

His motion for reconsideration of the negative determination was denied due to a deadline. No one explained that he had only seven days to file the motion, nor did he receive a paperwork indicating this timeline. At the time, he did not have legal representation to guide him through the process. Thus, his case was not managed fairly because of the series of issues he faced during the process, and he fears for his safety and the very possibility of being deported to Ethiopia. In fact, he has been asked several times to sign travel documents for his deportation process, but he continues to be defiant. Mr. Megos finally has legal representation now to work on his release process. 

This petition will serve as a plea to federal and state officials as well as the immigration judge to aid in preventing Mr. Megos’s deportation and expedite his release from the detention facility. Please sign this petition to show your support for Megos A. Degene so he can finally no longer have to live in fear.

ሓውና ንምፍታሕ እጃምና ነበርክት።