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Protesters support student facing deportation from U.S.
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Also by Pedro Oliveira Jr.:
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by Pedro Oliveira Jr.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Monday’s pouring rain was no obstacle for more than 60 University of Wisconsin students protesting in support of a pharmacy student arrested last week and facing deportation to Nigeria.
The students gathered in Memorial Union around 12:30 p.m. to draw posters and strategize in efforts to keep Tope Awe in the United States at least until her expected graduation day in May 2009.
According to her father, Sam Awe, the pharmacy student and her brother were “unexpectedly” taken to Dodge County Jail Thursday after an interview with U.S. Homeland and Security that her family hoped would serve to regularize their residency in the country. Cause of arrest is still unclear, Sam Awe added.
Awe, 22, has lived in the U.S. since she was 3 years old when her father, Sam Awe, needed to return to America for medical reasons. Sam Awe completed undergraduate studies in California and received a Ph.D. from UW.
Sam Awe later returned to the country to have a kidney transplant and has been in the country with his family since 1989, he said, because his doctors asked him not to leave the U.S. The Awe family has a B1-B2 Visa, which allows them to stay in the country on a temporary condition until Sam Awe’s health is stable enough for him to return to Nigeria.
The crowd marched to the office of U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin, D-Madison, through the Capitol, and dozens of visitors and workers in the building stopped to listen as the students’ “Free Tope” chants reverberated in the rotunda.
Jerilyn Goodman, Baldwin’s press secretary, said the congresswoman’s office had not been contacted yet but would be “happy to explore whatever options” to help Awe.
“Obviously this story is getting a lot of attention, but in order for us to take any action, we need to be contacted first,” Goodman added.
UW senior Nalubega Mukasa, who met with Baldwin’s staff, said the group was advised to provide Tope Awe with a Privacy Act release so they can have access to her immigration documents and be able to see where the case stands. Mukasa added a fund has been created to pay for a lawyer and try to arrange a hearing for Awe.
The protest was organized by several UW student organizations, including the African Student Association, Black Student Union, International Socialist Organization, Multicultural Student Coalition, College Democrats and the Campus Antiwar Network.
Awe’s cause has also received support from the UW School of Pharmacy and Dean of Students Lori Berquam.
“We are grateful for today’s outpouring of support on behalf of Tope and her situation,” said Jeanette Roberts, dean of the UW School of Pharmacy. “It’s critical for both she and her family to be aware that her friends on the UW-Madison campus are advocating for her to be allowed to continue her studies.”
Roberts has been in contact with the Awe family and earlier said Tope Awe seems to be in good physical and mental health.
According to friends and UW staff, Tope Awe is heavily involved in leadership positions, working as a Multicultural Resident Consultant in Chadbourne Residential College.
She is also founder and co-chair of the African Student Association, co-president of the Multicultural Affair Program in Pharmacy and is involved in promoting diversity and a positive climate for students of color at UW, her friends said.
Tope Awe’s friends have been collecting signatures and created a Facebook group this weekend in efforts to show authorities her “importance and impact” on the UW community.
According to Mukasa, the supporters have collected more than 1,700 signatures and letters, though she added the number was not updated for today’s additions. More than 1,600 people had joined the Facebook group as of late Monday evening.
Anonymous (April 1, 2008 @ 7:30am):
Will Elian Gonzalez and Janet Reno be able to attend?
Anonymous (April 1, 2008 @ 8:00am):
Overstaying your official welcome by 5 years ain't something to be taken lightly, kids. However, I do feel that she should at least be allowed to stay long enough to finish earning her degree.
Anonymous (April 1, 2008 @ 10:25am):
How was she allowed to pursue graduate studies without a student visa? And student visas should be easy enough to obtain.
Anonymous (April 1, 2008 @ 11:17am):
"Cause of arrest is still unclear, Sam Awe added."
I'm wondering, did the REPORTER call someone and try to make it *clear*?! Because I'm pretty sure Sam is lying to you.
Though I agree that ICE should concentrate on deporting the thousands of criminals and gang-banger illegal aliens instead of the ones enrolled in college.
Anonymous (April 1, 2008 @ 11:20am):
Good luck girl, but your friends should stop acting sophomoric. One of the protesters proudly held aloft a sign asking for the end of racism. Are you kidding me? This is the same African Students Association that, in a discussion on what it means to be African, were of the view that non-black people are not really African.
Anonymous (April 1, 2008 @ 11:35am):
It would sure be a better idea to have her stay, than the millions of manual laborers we do little about.
Anonymous (April 1, 2008 @ 12:29pm):
you can collect all the signatures you want. the law is the law. have fun in nigeria and get in line like the rest of the world.
Anonymous (April 1, 2008 @ 12:58pm):
What does CAN have anything to do with a deportation issue?
Stay in your lane.
(Not that I don't think that possibly of her getting deported is stupid and asinine, though.)
Anonymous (April 1, 2008 @ 3:19pm):
"the view that non-black people are not really African"
All humans came from Africa, some left later than others is all.
Anonymous (April 1, 2008 @ 4:03pm):
everyone protesting that this is a racist action is out of their mind. Any immigrant can claim that they are being deported based on race. So what if she's a student, she comes from a middle class family that should've been able to afford paying for a regular visa as well as a student visa. Low income immigrants have the "excuse" of not being able to afford for the legal processes of obtaining visas, but what's yours? Rich or poor, staying here after you were told to leave is illegal, and as an immigrant i refuse to support your cause just bc you felt like being negligent. I waited in line, i paid thousands in fees just so i could come here and study like everyone else. And if you have been here illegally for 5 years, i truly doubt you and your family have been properly reporting taxes and social security, otherwise you would've been caught a while back. You don't deserve special treatment just because you are a student. If you were to tell me that you applied for and still were rejected for every type of visa then i'd show more compassion, but as far as i know, you didn't.
Anonymous (April 1, 2008 @ 4:52pm):
ummm kickasssss about tope's release and whoever made the irrelevant comments about the African student association and equated it to the use of a sign protesting against racism, needs to re-evaluate the purpose of the rally and the entire movement to support Tope's finishing of her education, it is that simple, everyone wants to impose negative opinions in a highly volatile and difficult situation and not address the right to an education that all people deserve regardless of color, race, or creed it is that simple. Many groups were at the rally some with political agendas other than what was the primary purpose but that does not mean it is a reflection of the African Student Association, to say as much is offensive and ignorant
Anonymous (April 1, 2008 @ 9:28pm):
Has she been paying resident tuition?
Shouldn't an illegal alien be paying non-resident tuition?
Anonymous (April 1, 2008 @ 10:41pm):
Tope is a Nigerian citizen, not a US citizen. ICE should deport her. She should apply for a student visa and use it to return to finish her degree.
Anonymous (April 2, 2008 @ 2:20am):
4.52 -- I'm sorry, but higher education, especially graduate study, is not a right. If you can pay/qualify for it, it's a privilege you enjoy. As 4.03 points out, some people sweat blood to save up the money to come here and pay international student fees, wait in line for ages to get their paperwork sorted out and such. Nevertheless, I am glad she has been released from custody. Badger herald, you continue to disappoint with hopeless, one-sided reporting.
Anonymous (April 6, 2008 @ 9:16pm):
Wow. These Badger Herald's feedback space never fails to attract the absolute dregs of society.
The issue of immigrant rights, the illegal and unjust wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the economic recession are intimately related. It makes good sense that CAN helped organize the rally and I hope they continue to work for Tope and her family's freedom. Now is a time for unity among the forces in our country struggling for peace and justice. Together workers and students of every color must join together to create change deeper and more lasting than anything our elected representatives are capable or willing to deliver. All power to the people!
Anonymous (April 6, 2008 @ 9:16pm):
FREE TOPE!
Anonymous (April 11, 2008 @ 2:58pm):
On the issue of "illegal" immigrants, think before you talk and don't talk too quickly. Tope is out of custody, let the fight begin in the court and let justice roll, we are all watching.
peace
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