Home Contra Costa County Rep. DeSaulnier’s Statement on Approval of Deferred Action for Award-Winning Advocate Isabel Bueso

Rep. DeSaulnier’s Statement on Approval of Deferred Action for Award-Winning Advocate Isabel Bueso

by ECT
Mark DeSaulnier

Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Mark DeSaulnier (CA-11) issued the following statement after learning that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) granted Concord resident Maria Isabel (Isabel) Bueso and her family deferred action for a period of two years. Isabel rose to national notoriety as the face of the Trump Administration’s cancellation of deferred action, which led to people like her with rare, life-threatening diseases facing deportation.

“I can think of nobody more deserving than Isabel and her family to stay in our community and receive life-saving treatment,” said Congressman DeSaulnier. “While we celebrate today, we remain committed to finding a long-term solution for Isabel and the hundreds of others whose lives were upended. I continue to be awed and inspired by Isabel’s strength and passion for helping others in the face of adversity, and will honor that spirit with a commitment to fight for her.”

“While the past few months have been trying on both me and my family, it has also been incredible to receive such an outpouring of love and support from people all over the country,” said Isabel Bueso. “While we are temporarily relieved to have our deferred action status granted, we also look forward to working with our legislators on a long-term solution so that we are never placed in this position again. We also hope all families in need of medical deferred action soon receive communication so they can continue the care they deserve.”

Since Isabel and her family were denied deferred action, Congressman DeSaulnier has actively worked to save them from deportation, including:

  • Introducing a private bill (H.R. 4225) that would allow Isabel and her family to remain in the United States to continue to receive treatment for her rare, life-threatening disease.
  • Calling for an Oversight and Reform Committee hearing on the policy change. The hearing was held on Wednesday, September 11th, at which Isabel Bueso testified.
  • Sending a letter with Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) petitioning the Acting Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, Kevin McAleenan, to re-review the cases of the Bueso family.
  • Co-leading an effort with Immigration and Citizenship Subcommittee Chairwoman Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Representatives Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), Judy Chu (D-CA), Lou Correa (D-CA), and Senators Edward Markey (D-MA) and Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and over 100 other lawmakers to DHS, ICE, and USCIS in demanding answers on USCIS’s decision to end consideration of non-military deferred action requests, including medical deferred action.

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