The fight to keep Youngstown businessman Amer "Al Adi" Othman in the United States has gone national.
Two days after ICE took Othman into custody with the intention of deporting him back to Jordan, The House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security has voted to request a Department of Homeland Security report on his immigration case.
Congressman Tim Ryan has led the charge to keep Al Adi from being deported. He has sponsored H.R. 1237, a private immigration bill that would grant Othman legal permanent residence. Ryan says the departmental report is 'a preliminary and necessary step' before the Subcommittee could consider his bill.
In a statement, Ryan adds:
“Under past Administrations, a vote like the one tonight by the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security would halt all deportation proceedings for six months, allowing the Department of Homeland Security to conduct its investigation and for the Subcommittee to consider the results of the report. I would expect the Trump Administration to honor the will of the Subcommittee."“Amer deserves to have his case heard in court, and he deserves to stay in the United States – his home. In light of this development I call on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to immediately release Amer from custody to rejoin his family in Youngstown. I would also like to thank the Members of Congress on the Subcommittee for recognizing the merits of this case and voting to make sure the Department of Homeland Security conducts a full investigation into this situation,” said Congressman Ryan.
After detaining Othman earlier this week, ICE issued a statement saying he will be deported. The agency says, "he does not have a legal basis to remain in the U.S. and he will remain in ICE custody pending removal from the United States."
Othman's business will be taken over by family members so the people who work for him won't lose their jobs.