A permanent legal resident in the US, Deon Lewis, requested deportation, complaining about constant pain and absence of medical treatment while detained in a Texas immigration facility, the Houston Chronicle reports. Lewis, 43, has sickle cell disease, which disrupts blood flow and can lead to intense pain, organ impairment, or stroke.
Lewis has held a green card since 1993 and has been a resident of the U.S. since he was age 11. Though he had been a long-term resident, he faced detention for previous criminal charges, including in 2002 on charges of cocaine possession and in 2020 on charges of marijuana and cocaine possession and for carrying a firearm. In an interview with the Chronicle, Lewis stated, "I've been in this country since I was 11 years old.". Yes, I made a mistake. After that, I opened my own business. I have five kids that I provide for. I have never been on child support for any of them.
Lewis has undergone lung surgery in the past and used to be on medication that enabled him to work. He has been detained in Houston since June 30, after being detained initially in Louisiana. His attorneys indicate he has been denied medication for his sickle cell disease while in Texas and has fainted due to pain. Mid-July, he consented to a stipulated removal order and waived his right to appeal, saying his primary objective is to get medical care as soon as possible.
"It's only a matter of time before something terrible happens to me," Lewis said to the Chronicle. "Why haven't I been deported yet? I've been pleading these people to deport me." His wife, Roxanne Lewis, has volunteered to pay his travel fare in order to expedite his release, noting that her husband's top priority is access to treatment.
Lewis' lawyers contend that his criminal history need not hinder his deportation. Rina Gandhi, a lawyer for Lewis, stated, "He's not resisting or contesting removal he's attempting to depart because of his debilitating medical issues and everybody concurs in his removal. So why is he still around? His rap sheet shouldn't count. If anything, it should expedite things.
One ICE spokesperson, however, called Lewis "the definition of a threat to public safety" and said he would be held in custody until removal proceedings are final. The case is part of increased scrutiny of U.S. immigration enforcement, which has held not only illegal migrants but also some legal immigrants.
Roxanne Lewis has established a GoFundMe fund, referring to her husband as "an asset to his community for more than 30 years," noting his business that employs people and offers transportation to the public. She implored public support for his release and access to appropriate medical treatment, labeling the situation as "horrible" and "devastating" to the family.
