Written by Johnathan Silver, The Shorthorn Saad Nabeel could be back home by February 2011, if friends and friends of friends have something to say about it. Nabeel, a former UTA electrical engineering student, was deported to his home country of Bangladesh November 2009. His friends and supporters congregated on campus Friday to come up with a plan for his return to the states. Now, they’re eying U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to remove a 10-year ban Nabeel has from the U.S. His family lived in the United States illegally after petitions to stay failed, even though they entered the country with the government’s knowledge more than 15 years ago. When deported, the family’s green cards were in the process of being delivered. Nabeel and his mother pursued political asylum in Canada last year, but following misunderstandings, they were subjected to interrogations and eventually separated and imprisoned. Many people became aware of Nabeel’s story through national and international media. The stories may not have come to light though, if it weren’t for the existence of a Facebook page dedicated to getting Nabeel home. But don’t call the group of people a group, said organizer and UTA political science senior Priscylla Bento. Putting a name on these “individuals” would implement unnecessary protocol that groups endure, she said. “We’re just individuals, with different opinions, coming together to help Saad,” she said. Toward the end of the meeting, attendees contacted Nabeel via text message, and asked him to log on to Skype. Once he was online, meeting attendees asked Nabeel questions concerning his health. He said at first he was sick, but now he’s fine. His only challenge, he said, is dealing with not being able to leave his home since he’s unaccustomed to the foreign culture of his homeland. Beside Nabeel himself, Shawna McNary, a former classmate of Nabeel, has much institutional knowledge of Nabeel’s case. She said Nabeel is American at heart. “His favorite singer is Taylor Swift,” she said. “That says it all.” McNary, who jumped on board Nabeel’s case in the early stages, thought it was unfair for Nabeel to be put in the situation he’s in. Most people don’t think everything in their life could change one day, she said. But that will change soon, she said. “I want them to think your name when they go to sleep,” McNary told Nabeel. While the students are focusing on the U.S. Department of Justice, Nabeel’s immigration adviser Ralph Isenberg is linking Nabeel to the controversial DREAM Act. The DREAM Act is a piece of legislation under review by Congress that would create a path to legal residency for undocumented students. The amendment Isenberg suggested to senior members of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, would grant the same path to students who were deported three years prior to the signing of the act. Isenberg said he considered helping Nabeel tackle the 10-year ban, but thought it just would be lost in the court system. “Is there anything that could work that could get this kid here earlier,” he said. “That’s when I thought about the DREAM Act.” Isenberg said Nabeel meets the other requirements for the benefits of the DREAM Act, but the amendment, which he’s considering having named “The Saad Amendment,” would serve Nabeel well. “I thought 'this guy [Nabeel] is a shoo-in,'” he said. “But it’s not just for Saad.” http://www.theshorthorn.com/content/view/19868/265/ added by: Jdharden
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