Dozens gather to support Newton father facing deportation

NEWTON, Mass. - A local community came together to support a young student and his father who is facing deportation in Newton on Wednesday night.

Rigoberto Mendez is originally from Guatemala, and for 27 years he's been living in Newton, has established a family in the United States, assimilated into the local culture and is now on the verge of being kicked out of the country.

"He's an amazing dad, he's the guy with three jobs and barely sleeps, an anchor to his wife," said Victor Maldonado, Mendez's attorney. "This is the guy you'd loved to have as your neighbor."

Dozens of people gathered outside Horace Mann Elementary to show support for Mendez, his wife and two sons, the youngest of which will be in the fifth grade this fall.

Mendez came from Guatemala to the U.S. in 1991, building a life for himself and becoming engrained in the community.

Maldonado says his client has gone through the proper legal channels to try and stay in the country, however, after his repeated requests to extend his stay of removal have been denied under the new administration, he might have to go back to Guatemala.

"Leave my family behind, something I don't like to see never in my life," said Mendez.

At the same time he is facing the threat of deportation, Mendez's wife is now battling brain cancer. Maldonado hopes that will buy Mendez some goodwill with Immigration Enforcement and Customs.

"There are special circumstances here that we believe merit that they exercise discretion on his behalf and they stay his deportation," said Maldonado.

For now, the family says they're emotionally and physically drained and preparing to lose the patriarch of their family.

"I ask a big favor, I think we all deserve a second chance to leave my family together," said Mendez.

Mendez has a hearing in two weeks to prove that he has bought tickets to leave the country by September 15.

"Worse comes to worse and my dad is deported, I would probably drop out of school to support my family," said Roberto Felipe, Mendez's son. "I really hope it doesn't come to that because I'm the first in my family to go to college."

Roberto Felipe, the eldest son, would have to give up his full ride this fall for UMass Boston should his father be deported.

The family is also appealing to federal lawmakers, hoping they can step in and put a stop to the whole thing.

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Cox Media Group