To Whom it May Concern: Hello, my name is David Siegel and I am writing to you because my friend, and the friend of all of these collective signatures is being tried for deportation. Raphael Trevisan, a student at the University at Albany, is at a huge risk of being deported with his hearing scheduled for the first week of February. Raph deserves to be in this country just as much as any American citizen. He studies harder than anybody I know, and is one of the kindest individuals I have ever come into contact with. He absolutely deserves to be in this country and be able to pursue his dreams like the rest of us. Unfortunately Raph has been the victim of bad luck. You see, Raph is Brazilian, but has lived here since he was 2 ½. Furthermore, he would no longer be covered under his parent’s working visa since he has turned 21. His parents applied and have been on the waiting list for permanent residence before 9/11 happened and I do not think it is unreasonable to assume that they may have received their citizenship by now would it not be for the slow down caused by 9/11. Thusly, even if his parents were to receive full citizenship, it would be meaningless for Raph since he has to apply on his own now, because of his age. Not to mention the cost for a lawyer specializing in this is expensive, which hinders his ability to go through the proceedings. The real problem started when Raph, who is 21, happened to be at a bar when the cops raided it collecting everyone’s ID. So the cops confiscated his ID and found out his ID was actually a fake Brazilian ID. They threatened to deport him when he could not remember the place where he got the fake ID when he was younger. Being that he was so young when he moved here, he never was able to acquire an ID, only a passport. It is a sensible reason not wanting to carry your passport on you as your only form of ID. Unable to have any other legal ID because of his illegal status he went to some place in Jersey when he was younger to get another form of ID. So now he stands before the court not only as an illegal immigrant but an illegal immigrant who has also committed a crime (which was dropped to a violation). I strongly feel it is unfair that a hard-working student like Raph is persecuted when he has done nothing wrong, except to try and get some form of personal identification due to his sensitive situation. So I and everybody represented on this petition plead with you to give Mr. Trevisan a chance to fulfill his dreams in the United States. He is a dedicated student who has done nothing wrong, except to try and secure himself another form of ID. In addition, by deporting him, you would be sending him back to a country he has no recollection of, he is not used to the culture or language there, you would be taking him away from his family and friends, and you would be taking him away from America which he conisders his home. 

Sincerely, David Siegel

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