"This is more than a Harbert story. This is a national story. We are a nation of immigrants."
U.S. Representative Fred Upton (Michigan's 6th Congressional District - 8/30/2009)


   


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"Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves."
Abraham Lincoln
For our friends living outside of the U.S. -
we appreciate your support. Due to limitations on the iPetitions website we ask you to read the text of the petition below, fill in your personal information, and click the Sign Petition button to be included in our list of signers.

July 29, 2010

Re: Ibrahim Parlak

Dear President Obama, Secretary Napolitano & Attorney General Holder,

I am writing to express my concern over the continuing legal battle of Ibrahim Parlak of Harbert, Michigan. I respectfully request the new administration look closely into Mr. Parlak’s case, terminate the deportation proceedings against him and restore the permanent resident status he held since 1994.

Mr. Parlak, a Turkish Kurd, was granted political asylum in America in 1992 after being tortured and imprisoned in Turkey.   In the wake of 9/11, based on the same Kurdish activism for which he was granted asylum in America, Mr. Parlak was arrested, detained, and ordered deported.  Released on a writ of habeas corpus, by Judge Avern Cohen, he is now pursuing his case through the U.S. court system.  Throughout his ordeal Mr. Parlak has had unwavering bipartisan support from his community and its elected representatives, including Michigan’s Sen. Carl Levin (D) and Rep. Fred Upton (R).

On August 24, 2009, the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals delivered a split decision against Mr. Parlak.   In a strongly worded dissent, Judge Boyce Martin rebuked the immigration court proceedings in the Parlak case, calling it "a sad remnant of an era of paranoid, overzealous, error-riddled and misguided anti-terrorism and immigration enforcement that has now gone by the wayside."

Ibrahim Parlak has done everything we ask of immigrants who come to this country.  Through hard work and sacrifice he’s built a thriving business, created jobs in a place where opportunities are few, paid his share of taxes, served his community, and been a devoted father.  In his habeas corpus ruling Judge Cohn observed, "Ibrahim Parlak has been a model immigrant vigorously asserting his right to remain in the United States."

Mr. Parlak is the victim of a grave injustice that neither serves nor protects our country.  I ask the administration to terminate the deportation proceedings against Mr. Parlak and restore his permanent resident status.  Thank you for your thoughtful consideration.

Sincerely,