Texas Mother and Son No Longer Fear Deportation

Deportation proceedings for Valquires Geraldes and her son have been dismissed, and their applications for ‘green cards’ are expected to be OK’d, said their lawyer Simon Azar-Farr.

Brazilian born Valquires Geraldes and her son Wilson, 24, have lived in the United States for 20 years, and have feared deportation since they joined Valquires’ husband in 1987 without proper documentation.

“It was a nightmare,” the mother said of their case, which raised humanitarian concerns about Wilson, who has severe autism, learning disabilities, and limited communication skills.

Previously, legal proceedings beginning back in 1989, had been held due to the Geraldeses being charged with entering the country illegally two years prior. Now, their recent dismissal has opened the door for the Geraldeses to finally apply to become legal permanent residents.

Azar-Farr was not their original attorney and said Valquires Geraldes and her son should never have been placed in deportation proceedings. He believes the previous attorney was severely mistaken in not realizing that they had been eligible to apply for legal status through Geraldes’ husband who became a legal permanent resident in 1990.

Declining to comment on the case in detail, Azar-Farr said, “The government should be complimented for taking a serious and careful look at this case and its facts and exercising their discretion favorably.”

The family said that with legal documentation they can look forward to their son, Wilson, applying for a Social Security number, which would give him the opportunity to enroll in assisted work programs that would allow him to get out of the house and pursue his interests and make friends.