News

Illegal Immigrant Invites ICE To Town Hall. Is Shocked To Find He’s Being Deported

By Daniel M

September 11, 2019

This is one of those heartwarming stories that only comes along once in a while and is too good to not share. It takes place in Houston, Texas and features local businessman Roland Gramajo. The father of five has been operating his own business in the city for the past fifteen years, also serving as a vocal activist in support of the Guatemalan community, providing help with translations and locating legal services where required.

Recently, Mr. Gramajo sought to open the lines of communication on immigration matters further by hosting a town hall. He invited members of the community, elected officials and even representatives of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to share their stories and work on finding solutions. Shortly after the town hall took place, however, Mr. Gramajo received an unpleasant surprise. (NY Times, emphasis added)

In August, Roland Gramajo, a Houston businessman and celebrated advocate in the local Guatemalan community, helped organize a town-hall meeting to quell fears about recent federal immigration raids. Governor Plans to ‘Send a Message’ to Anti-Israel Protesters – ‘They Will Be Put in Jail’ Which states could have abortion on the ballot in 2024? Sharpton Admits Truth on MSNBC: How Can Left Say Jan. 6 Was Wrong, But Not Anti-Semitic Campus Protests? Trump-backed Brad Knott on track to win Democratic NC House seat after opponent bows out before runoff Alvin Bragg’s Team Begs Judge to Pile Even More Punishment on Trump Watch: Kristi Noem Responds to Critics; Calls Outrage ‘Fake News’ Florida landlord evicted squatters one year ago, her story helped pass a bill to protect homeowners Fox News Politics: Trump’s ‘beautiful’ baby blues Tenn. Passes ‘Baby Olivia Act’ Requiring Public Schools to Show Students Unborn Babies’ Development ‘The Lion King’ Prequel Director Responds to Fans Calling Disney a ‘Soulless Machine’ Alabama lawmakers advance bill letting inmates speak at parole hearings Sen. Tom Cotton takes aim at student loan forgiveness for anti-Israel agitators 2024 Showdown: Biden’s bump has flatlined in the polls Shocking Number of Anti-Israel Protesters at Columbia Weren’t Students: Law Enforcement Fox News Anchor Goes Missing from the Air Due to 16-Year-Old Son’s Medical Emergency He invited community activists from across the country. He also invited members of Congress. He even invited officials with Immigration and Customs Enforcement to talk about what rights people had and didn’t have if they were confronted by the authorities. But three weeks after the meeting, it is Mr. Gramajo who faces deportation. He was arrested near his home last Thursday, a move that has stunned his family and rekindled concerns that the Trump administration is targeting advocates as part of its crackdown on illegal immigration.

If you click through to the Times article, you’ll see that I wasn’t trying to mislead you about this story. That’s how they told it. In fact, you have to work your way down several paragraphs before finally locating the following biographical information. “Mr. Gramajo had been staying in the country illegally — raising his five children, running a business in Houston and helping fellow immigrants with translations — without contact from ICE for about 15 years.