Introduction

Godfrey Wade is a United States Army veteran who served this country honorably.

He was brought to the United States as a child as a lawful permanent resident. For more than fifty years, this has been his home, the country he chose to serve and defend.

What Went Wrong

Godfrey is now in immigration detention under a final order of removal. Deportation is imminent. 

This did not happen because a judge heard his case and decided he should be deported. It happened because he never received notice of his immigration hearing. Court notices were mailed to an address where he did not live and were returned as undeliverable. As a result, a removal order was entered without Godfrey ever having an opportunity to be heard.

What Godfrey Needs Now

We are not asking anyone to ignore the law.

We are asking for one simple thing: that Godfrey’s case be reopened so a judge can hear it on the merits and consider the full picture, including his honorable military service, his decades in the United States, and whether the law allows him to remain.

This is a request firmly grounded in existing law and procedure.

Why Signatures Matter

Godfrey has not yet been deported. There is still time to fix this, but only if decision-makers are willing to slow down and take a meaningful look at his case. 

If they do, it will be immediately clear that Godfrey never received proper notice and never had his day in court. Immigration authorities have unquestioned legal authority to reopen removal proceedings and allow a case to be heard when fundamental fairness requires it.

Public attention matters. It helps ensure that a case is not overlooked and that a human life is not reduced to a file number, and that a veteran’s service and history are not overlooked because of a mailing error.

What You Can Do To Help

If you believe that an Army veteran deserves at least one fair day in court before being deported, please add your name.

One hearing.

One opportunity.

One chance to be heard.

Watch 11Alive’s investigation into Godfrey’s case