By Nick Norlen, Staff Writer
A longtime Princeton Township resident and his son — both alleged illegal immigrants — were arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers at their home early Thursday morning.
The arrested man’s wife is now attempting to fight deportation for herself and her family to their native Guatemala with the help of an attorney and support from local immigrant advocates and members of their church.
Javier Quiej, 39, and his son, Princeton High School graduate Javier Quiej Jr., 19, were arrested by an ICE fugitive team around 6 a.m. Thursday, according to ICE spokesman Michael Gilhooly. Both men had warrants of deportation, and both had been ordered to leave the country by Sept. 9, 1997 by an immigration judge, Mr. Gilhooly said.
”We arrested them on the administrative immigration order,” he said, noting that the arrest did not involve any criminal charges.
Mr. Quiej is currently being held in Middlesex County jail and his son is being held at the Elizabeth Detention Center, according to Mr. Gilhooly.
Mr. Quiej’s wife, Graciela Quiej, was also served with a notice to appear at an immigration hearing for deportation within a week, according to Latin American Legal Defense & Education Fund co-founder Maria Juega, who said she received a call from the Ms. Quiej after the incident Thursday morning.
Mr. and Ms. Quiej have lived in Princeton since 1991, Ms. Juega said. They have three daughters between 12 and 18. The youngest was born in the United States and is a legal resident. But the oldest daughter and the middle girl, who has cerebral palsy, were born in Guatemala. All three attend Princeton Regional School District schools.
Ms. Juega said the family has attempted to obtain residency since 1993 when they initially filed for asylum, but have been unsuccessful despite several appeals.
She said the girl with cerebral palsy is scheduled to have surgery on her back soon.
”We’re trying to gather documents to stop the deportation process on that basis and reopen the case,” she said. “I believe that there may be some grounds based on the fact that it’s been over 10 years since the deportation order has been issued.”
A tearful Ms. Quiej, who only speaks Spanish, said through Ms. Juega on Thursday that she is attempting to contact the hospital where her daughter is receiving treatment to get documentation to provide to the immigration authorities.
Her lawyer, Princeton-based immigration attorney Stephen Traylor, could not be reached for comment Thursday.
If the family is deported to Guatemala, “I won’t be able to take care of her there,” Ms. Quiej said of her daughter. “So I’m very worried.”
Ms. Quiej said agents arrived early in the morning and shined the lights of their cars into the house before knocking.
”I was very scared,” she said. “I thought, if I don’t open the door, it’s going to be worse, so I went down stairs and opened the door.”
Now, officials are moving ahead with the deportation process, Mr. Gilhooly said.
”They have final orders of removal, but we have certain requirements that we have to go through to enforce the judge’s orders,” he said. “That process does take some time. It doesn’t work overnight.”
Mr. Gilhooly said that if the two men had left the country when they were ordered to, they could have applied to enter legally.
”If they are removed — deported — there is a bar to re-enter the U.S.,” he said, noting that it is five or 10 years, depending on the case.
For now, Ms. Quiej said she is asking for prayers from the community and members of her church, St. Paul’s Roman Catholic Church on Nassau Street.
Father Javier Diaz, who is part of St. Paul’s Hispanic ministry, said the family is active in the congregation. He said Mr. Quiej has worked a number of jobs to support his family, especially his disabled daughter.
”If I can do anything for this family, I will do it because they are members of our community,” he said. “The whole community is really concerned about this situation with the family now. I know they will support them.”
