IRVINGTON — U.S. citizen spouse Harlon Wilson and his El Salvadoran husband, Luis Enrique Gonzalez-Ortis are taking their struggle to keep their family together with the “What About Us? A Peaceful Resistance Rally for Immigration Reform” on July 15 at 1 p.m. in the parking lot behind the Irvington Branch library, 5625 E. Washington St. Everyone is invited to hear their story, and the stories of others affected by the changing immigration conversation, and to enjoy culturally diverse music and other artistic expression.
Co-founders of Home Development Solutions, a start-up business focused on home improvements and neighborhood revitalization for eastside neighborhoods, Harlon and Enrique were married in 2014 in Indianapolis. Harlon is also a Realtor with Artisan Realtors in Irvington. Enrique is a native of El Salvador who has been in the U.S. for more than a decade, and is Home Development Solution’s general contractor and the visionary guiding their improvement strategy.
Despite two successful Stays of Deportation, Enrique now faces the risk of deportation before his green card is issued. Recent shifts in immigration policy have created significant barriers for legalization for the Christian Park couple, as well as millions of other immigrants in the United States. Enrique’s most recent Stay of Deportation was denied and the couple has received a request by ICE for a travel itinerary to return to El Salvador, where they would face significant danger and hardship. There is a petition online at MoveOn (petitions.moveon.org/sign/stop-unjust-deportations).
“Facing the prospects of losing everything we have built, forceful separation from our family and friends, and being deported into harm’s way in a Central American country, we decided enough is enough!” Wilson asserted. “Our east side neighbors, friends, and clients throughout Irvington and Christian Park have shown us acceptance, openness, and yes, even pushback at times . . . There could be no better place to sink our teeth into solving problems such as immigration reform than where the rubber-meets-the-roads of east side neighborhoods.”
Visit www.deportinglove.com for more information about the issue.