This week, Rep. Luis V. Gutierrez (D-IL-4) joined Gabino Sanchez, a South Carolina man facing deportation, at a hearing in Charlotte, NC and rallied with hundreds of supporters, including a large contingent of local clergy, outside the courthouse before the hearing.

Inside the court room, a judge and ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) attorneys agreed to allow Mr. Sanchez and his attorney, Marty Rosenbluth, Executive Director of the NC Immigrant Rights Project in Durham, to pursue “cancellation of removal” at a subsequent hearing to be held in February 2013.  At that hearing, evidence will be presented that deporting Mr. Sanchez will cause extreme and unusual hardship to his two young children, both of whom are U.S. citizens.  It is a high burden of proof, but all those who are supporting Mr. Sanchez’ effort to stay in the United States, including Congressman Gutierrez, are pleased with today’s outcome.