Monday, May 30, 2011

Parishioner of St. Katharine Drexel in Chester slated for deportation

Zulma Villatoro was brought to the US from Guatemala in 1998 at the age of 14 by her mother and stepfather, who have obtained permanent residency. The St. Katharine Drexel parishioner is the mother of a 4-year-old Reina (from whom she'd be permanently separated by the deportation) and is expecting a second child.

Unfortunately, Zulma's lawyer made errors that caused her petition to be rejected. She has been engaged in a legal struggle for years and is facing deportation July 2.

Please sign this petition urging Senator Casey, Representative Brady, Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security, John Morton, and Secretary of Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano to stop the deportation.

There will be a vigil for Zulma at 5 p.m. Tuesday, June 7 in front of the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul in Philadelphia. Please join us there to pray and petition that this young family not be split up, and that Zulma not be deported to Guatemala -- a country where violence against women and girls has become epidemic according to recent U.N. Human Rights Council reports.