Bubbacar Jobe played for a United Soccer League team known as the "Rush" soccer team in the Woodlands, Texas after immigrating from Gambia. While applying for a Special Immigrant Juvenile Visa, he turned 18 and his visitor's visa had expired. U.S. officials banned him from returning to the United States for ten years and he had to go to London, Canada to stay with his coach's relatives.

“He became unlawfully present,” says John Sandweg, a former general counsel for the Department of Homeland Security. “He became illegal.” (Yahoo News)

Toronto's TFC II club in the United Soccer League, the third-tier of American men’s pro soccer where many MLS reserve teams play, signed him after he did well in a tryout. However, TFC II plays many of its games in the United States, where Buba is still banned from returning.

Bubbacar Jobe is a talented player who is well loved and supported by his American peers and "family". Please grant Bubbacar Jobe permanent residency in the U.S. so that he can apply for citizenship. He came here legally as a juvenile, and USCIS has already set the precedent by allowing some immigrant juveniles to be here such as DACA and allowed some immigrant adults to receive visas for their skills such as H1B Visas.

10 years to wait to apply for a visa would constitute an extreme hardship and doing so would likely impair his talent since he is a soccer player who successfully tried out for a competitive and highly coveted position that does not come easily, would not cause him to be a burden on society, and his talent would be an asset to his team and his community. By granting him permanent residency it allows him to receive this once in a lifetime opportunity, and would put him on the path of citizenship and back with his friends and "family".

Sign the petition asking United States Citizenship and Immigration Services and  UCIS Texas Services Center Director Gregory A. Richardson to revoke the decision to ban him for ten years, and allow him to be granted permanent residency.  Let him play.