For the first time in three years and five months, Ded Rranxburgaj is free to leave the Central United Methodist Church in Detroit, where he and his family took refuge for fear of deportation.
U.S. immigration and customs enforcement forces had labeled Rranxburgaj as a fugitive to avoid the deportation ordered by the Trump administration in 2018.
After requesting his case be heard in the U.S. Supreme Court, Rranxburgaj’s lawyer said an agreement was reached Tuesday with the Department of Justice and calls for his client to drop a lawsuit against ICE. In return, Rranxburgaj’s humanitarian visa will be reinstated and will allow him to stay in the country to care for his ailing wife.
“Rranxburgaj celebrated with members of the United Central Methodist Church who defended them for more than three years,” Rranxburgaj lawyer George Mann told The Detroit Nevs. “This is a great success for Mr. Rranxburgaj. “He avoided staying in the Church for many more months as the affair progressed – and we could not do without this community.”
The 51-year-old emigrated to the US with his wife Flora and son Lorenc where he sought asylum after leaving the communist regime 30 years ago. They were denied asylum but Ded and Flora obtained humanitarian visas to live legally in the United States.
His wife Flora, now 48, has been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and given a permanent humanitarian visa, while Ded has a temporary visa to care for him. He worked two jobs, as a cook and in construction to support the family at a time when in 2003 his second son Eric was born.
In 2017 his visa was not renewed, as the Trump administration decided to deport all those with temporary visas. He was asked for proof in January 2018 that he would leave and for that he paid $ 800 for the plane ticket where he never boarded. Authorities charged him as a fugitive for evading eviction.
Immigration advocates and family lawyer say it is rare for an immigration case to be heard by the Supreme Court, but they have hope.
Rranxburgaj says he left everything to the American dream but he is still far from freedom. “The American dream is not going well for us. “We live a difficult life but we are grateful for this life as well,” Ded said.
While living in the Church their eldest son Lorenc, 27, graduated in Michigan while Eric today 18 years old in a local high school. Neither Ded nor Flora could attend any ceremonies. Eric is a US citizen but cannot support his father until he is 21 years old.
