Immigration crackdown leaves Albuquerque man in limbo
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – As President Donald Trump cracks down on immigration, a Mexican citizen living in Albuquerque is sharing his story about the uncertainty he's facing trying to remain in New Mexico, where he's lived for decades.
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Advocating for an Albuquerque man facing questions about his immigration status, dozens showed up Friday for Antonio Rios. Born in Mexico, Rios has been living and working in the U.S. for more than 20 years. In that time, he had two kids with a U.S. citizen who fell into drug addiction.
He was also deported more than once. He said he's kept coming back to support his kids, who are American citizens. 'They were in the street, he saw pictures of them, you know, living in the street, and so he was desperate to get to his children and to protect them,' said Rebecca Kitson, Immigration Attorney for Rebecca Kitson Law.
Since 2016, Rios has worked with an immigration attorney trying to get a visa, while staying in contact with immigration and customs. But amid a shift in federal policy, Rios is now worried he'll be deported any day.
'I mean, I think it's a real example of the shift in enforcement policy with this administration. In the past, ICE has had the ability to exercise its discretion in cases where they know the person individually and think that the person is deserving of some additional support,' said Kitson.
Rios applied for a special visa indicating he's a trafficking victim, after he said he worked at an unsafe Albuquerque job site. However, that application hasn't been decided on, leaving his family wondering if Rios will be allowed to stay.
'Like surreal, like it doesn't feel real. I've just always been with my dad, it's always been him who takes care of us, so it doesn't feel real that he's most likely about to leave,' said Juliana Chairez, daughter of Antonio Rios.
After talking to ICE officials on Friday, Rios is still here, but now on an ankle monitor that ICE is tracking. 'One isn't a criminal, I'm waiting. I've been working 20 years working here. I wish I could get through this and not come out in chains,' said Antonio Chairez Rios, currently waiting to hear from ICE.
Rios is expecting that ICE could make a decision on his status in the next few days. His next check-in with immigration and customs is in September. It's unclear when he'll receive a decision on his visa application.
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