Pedro Gutierrez, DREAM Act-Eligible Aspiring Marine, Given One More Year Until Deportation

Pedro Gutierrez's nightmare has been put off for at least one year. The Feds told him that he had to be out of the country by next Tuesday. But, today they changed their minds.

After receiving pressure from activists and congressional leaders, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) told Gutierrez -- a 24-year-old undocumented immigrant, father to a U.S.-born child, and an aspiring Marine -- that he has one more year to stay in the country he's called home for the last 17 years.

"I don't know the language, I don't have any friends, I don't have any family," Gutierrez said about returning to Mexico, the country in which he was born, in a press conference on Thursday. Gutierrez says he was brought to the U.S. when he was just 6 or 7 years old and that Mexico would "be like a foreign country" to him.

Mo Goldman, Gutierrez's lawyer, said in the press conference on Thursday that his client would be the perfect candidate for the DREAM Act -- a measure which would create a pathway towards citizenship for undocumented students and soldiers who were brought to the country at a young age.

"Pedro is the prototypical DREAM Act eligible person. Pedro embodies the spirit of DREAMers," Mo Goldman said in a press call on Thursday.

In 2011, ICE Director John Morton established new guidelines that prioritized the deportation of undocumented immigrants who are dangerous criminals. Gutierrez's lawyer says that his client should benefit from these new guidelines as well, but has been given just one year to remain in the country.

However, according to Gutierrez, he has one speeding ticket and one traffic violation on his record. He insists that alcohol was not involved in either incident. After missing a court proceeding in 2009, Gutierrez served 8 days in jail.

The 24-year-old says his newborn daughter adds yet another dimension to his desire to stay in the country. Gutierrez and his girlfriend are currently discussing the option of getting married, which would likely help his case for staying in the U.S.

While Gutierrez is allowed to stay for at least a year, he has not been granted legal status, meaning he cannot legally work or serve in the armed forces.

"I'm in a limbo right now," Gutierrez said.

If he manages to get a green card, he says he will enlist in the armed forces.

"Even though some people don't consider this to be my country, I still feel like it is, and like I should try to give back," Gutierrez said.

WATCH: Pedro Gutierrez Tells His Story

Comments

[Teddy Bennett]

06:33 PM on 04/17/2012

Why is the stature of Liberty still here? This country does not believe it anymore. They have forgotten they are immigrants too.

[spytheweb]

08:03 PM on 04/20/2012

The SOL was never a policy of the government. That poem was pushed by US newspapers.

BTW, America allows a million immigrants a year to become citizens, most from Mexico. Mexico also has the most in the country illegally. Mexico, the most legally and illegally and it's not enough?

[Freedomlover999]

09:08 AM on 04/17/2012

"THE FAIR DREAM ACT"

1- Illegals have to acknowledge that they have broken the law and pay a penalty for no less then $15,000. Payable in a five year term at 5% APR. Upon applying, they would be issued a temporary work permit for 5 years, if they fail to make payments for more than 90 days, the work permit would be cancelled and they will be subject to deportation.
2.- Pass a TOEFL exam with a satisfactory score.
3.- Get a GED or high school diploma.
4.- Once the work permit is issued, neither they nor their family will be eligible for any type of public assistance. If they receive public assistance, they will be subject to deportation.
5.- Have no criminal record neither in the U.S. nor in their country of origin.
6.- If they have children born in the U.S., they must have paid at least 50% of the cost of maternity
7.- At the end of the five year period, if they fulfilled all the above requirements, they can change their status to legal resident. If they do not meet the requirements, they will be subject to deportation.

These people should understand that being a U.S. resident or citizen is a privilege and not a right, and every privilege must be EARNED.

[spytheweb]

08:14 PM on 04/20/2012

No amnesty at all by what ever name.

How about leaving the country, then apply for a visa? If any amnesty is allowed illegal aliens will think it's OK to enter the country first before applying for anything.

Just a few laws will right the ship, national E-Verify, the Birthright Act, Secure Communities and The Real ID Act just to name a few.

[officialkingb]

04:27 PM on 04/16/2012

THIS IS HIS HOME TOO!!! LET HIM BE A FATHER AND MAKE THE DREAM HE WANTS. PEOPLE CALL HIM ILLEGAL BUT HIS HEART SAYS UNITED STATES. HES REPRESENTING THE U.S. BEING HERE NOT MEXICO!

[The Brain]

02:38 PM on 04/17/2012

That is like breaking into someone's home and then saying it my home too now.

[spytheweb]

08:16 PM on 04/20/2012

He's a Mexican citizen.

[officialkingb]

04:17 PM on 04/16/2012

PEOPLE NEED TO STOP JUDGING FEW MEX"ICAN"S OFF OTHER MEXICANS IN THE PASTS MISTAKES. EVERY ONE IS DIFFERENT! WORRY BOUT YOUR OWN FAMILY AND LEAVE THEM ALONE.

[spytheweb]

08:18 PM on 04/20/2012

How many American families had a member killed by a illegal alien, i guess it's too late for them to worry about their family.

[CITYTERRACE63]

02:03 AM on 04/16/2012

Give the man a green card and make him serve in the military for at least 4 years. He should be allowed to stay in this country legally with some restrictions. First he should never be allowed to become a citizen or have voting rights. He should never be allowed to draw any government benefits.

[Tich Tran]

05:31 PM on 04/17/2012

Fine let him serve in the marine but it must be for 5 YEARS. And NO DISHONORABLE DISCHARGE. One rule broken in the marine or EVEN OUT OF THE MARINE HASTA LA VISTA.

[spytheweb]

08:22 PM on 04/20/2012

Keep it simple, deport him. Give him citizenship just because he hideout for 17 years? He should be thankful for the time he had here and leave. He's not grateful, he thinks he's owed more, for what?

[Karissa36]

09:27 PM on 04/15/2012

Mexico has a military. Go back to your own country. The Dream Act is not going to pass, and neither will any other form of amnesty. They just prefer to call themselves Dreamers instead of criminals.

[spytheweb]

08:31 PM on 04/20/2012

"IMO any foreign national who qualifies metally and physically regardless of legal status for military service should be allowed to serve"

Does this include Al Qaeda too? We don't know who these illegal aliens are. Many have changed identity so many times they don't remember who they are, now you want to give them a gun? Let him go to Mexico, join the military and help his country fight the drug war.

BY the way, in the dream act anyone who joins the military does not have to finish, they can just quit and apply for a hardship waiver to stay in the country because of a US spouse/child or illegal alien parent.

"If the alien is unable to complete 2 years of college but can demonstrate that their removal would result in hardship to themselves or their U.S. citizen or LPR spouse, child, or parent (the ones who broke the law in the first place by bringing them to the United States illegally), the education requirement can be waived altogether."

http://borderissues.us/2011/07/04/sen-sessions-new-dream-act-is-worse-than-before/

[LorenaG]

03:48 PM on 04/15/2012

we all know this is only an excuse he just doesn't want to be deported. now all the illegals want to go to school they want to serve the country with the hope that our government approves the so called "dream act" with legalization they've been waiting for 12 years. well to me they can sit and wait for another 12 years or better yet: if you are illegal GO HOME!!!!! this is not your country.

[LorenaG]

05:29 PM on 04/15/2012

for your info i did when i was younger i was in the navy for 8 years and now i'm an off duty but still working for them.

[officialkingb]

04:19 PM on 04/16/2012

THIS ISNT YOUR COUNTRY NEITHER. YOU DIDNT PUT IN WORK BACK IN THE DAYS TO CALL IT YOUR OWN. STOP JUGING PEOPLE AND WORRY ABOUT YOUR SELF. QUIT BEING SELFISH BECAUSE YOU KNOW DAMNN WELL IF IT WAS YOUR FAMILY YOUD TRY TO STOP IT.

[spytheweb]

08:38 PM on 04/20/2012

He has a country, the one he is citizen of, Mexico. We don't want him here.

[llwlknsn]

03:24 PM on 04/15/2012

Not impressed.

[rt1027]

01:49 AM on 04/15/2012

an aspiring Marine.........................laughing

now go home illegal

[lovelyliberalchick]

01:07 AM on 04/15/2012

He want to be marine?He should be allowed to serve.

[racebaiterhater]

08:08 PM on 04/14/2012

Seems like an illegal to me. A criminal to boot.

Nice spin, too, HuffPo. Aspiring Marine. Great touch.

[spytheweb]

07:06 PM on 04/14/2012

First this guy is in the country illegally, driving with no license and insurance, twice and one FTA and arrest. This is the kind of person Americans don't want in the country.

[rt1027]

01:49 AM on 04/15/2012

agreed

[LorenaG]

03:41 PM on 04/15/2012

double agree

[Dan Crabtree]

04:37 PM on 04/14/2012

The race is on foks on who will conquest amerca first hispanic or muslims should be a race to the finish..

[spytheweb]

08:53 PM on 04/20/2012

When it hits the tipping point, and it will, it's going to be ugly and the anti illegal aliens laws we need passed will be passed pretty quick, then it's on.

[Dan Crabtree]

04:32 PM on 04/14/2012

What laws we don't need no stinkin laws. if we want it we take it..