UPDATE: According to Francisco Javier Gonzalez's attorney, Richard Hujber, DHS/ICE has advised that Javier can cancel his one-way ticket to Mexico for now.
Read the statement below:
Richard Hujber
Boynton Beach, FL
JUN 28, 2018 — Dhs / Ice has advised that Javier can CANCEL his 1 way ticket to Mexico!! I had the GREAT pleasure of letting Javier know this excellent news & he and his family are ecstatic! I cannot go into all the specific details, but suffice to say there are serious doubts & concerns regarding the legality & validity of the reinstatement of the 16 1/2 year old order of deportation. And this is on top of all the violations related to the actual initial order SO MANY years ago! While this is a temporary victory, it also strengthens and supports our arguments in federal court. We are obviously thrilled for Javier and his beautiful family!Javier and his family thank EVERYONE for your amazing support and prayers. As I’ve said before, we will continue our fight for this family. I say WE because this is a TEAM effort and we, as a community, have banded together in this compelling cause. A HUGE THANKS must go out to co-counsel Rebeca Sanchez-Roig, Esq. for her hard work and dedication in this case.
Richard Hujber, Esq.
Rhujber@hujberlaw.com
EARLIER STORY:
Francisco "Javier" Gonzalez, the popular manager at Pizza al Fresco on Palm Beach, is now just days away from being deported and not knowing when he might see his kids or wife again. Despite this fact, Gonzalez continues to work. He is the sole provider for his family and doesn't want his kids to think he's not being positive.
Over the weekend, his lawyer plans to file a last-minute petition for a federal intervention.
"I don't want my daddy to go to Mexico, because I will miss him," said Gonzalez's daughter in a cell phone video he gave us.
He said his 11,8, and 6-year-old daughters now all know about his pending deportation.
"This is definitely affecting, especially the oldest one. She has been waking up in the middle of the night and worrying," he said.
Gonzalez is working with an ankle monitor on. He's supposed to present a one-way ticket home to Mexico on Tuesday to authorities.
"I'm probably going to do that in the next few days, hoping I don't have to use it," said Gonzalez.
He's set to be deported by July 3, but for him the plan is to fight.
"We really have no plan B," he said. "There are so many gangs where I grew up and they know about my situation. There is no way I'm going to take my kids there."
He's been married to a U.S. citizen for 12 years.
"I think she's devastated," said Gonzalez.
He was deported back to Mexico in 2001 after he came back to the U.S. from visiting his parents with what he thought was a valid visa. He was stopped at the airport and then came back before his 5-year ban was up.
"We are praying for you, crying for you," said one of his best customers at Pizza al Fresco.
Javier's biggest fear of all was in his daughter's video.
"I might forget him," she said.
"Hopefully I can stay here to raise my daughters," he said.
Gonzalez's attorney is also working on an extension and said there are people trying to contact the administration directly about the case.