Fear and worry plague Guillermo Cesario, a blind man from Mexico who, despite his obstacles, has become a recognized community leader among Hispanics in Georgia. Now, a pending deportation order weighs heavily on Cesario’s future.
Cesario would join the 25,613 undocumented immigrants without criminal records who were deported between January and March of last year, according to statistics released by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The 37-year-old arrived in the U.S. 16 years ago, via the Arizona border. Since then, “the only thing I’ve done is work hard in construction and restaurants, and I’ve become a community leader who organizes free events for Hispanics,” assured Cesario, who believes that what is happening to him is an injustice.
Cesario lost his vision in 2003, due to a disease known as Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy. Rather than impede him, however, the diagnosis motivated Cesario to, for example, study martial arts and become a black belt in karate. He went on to open a community academy where today he teaches positive values to close to 20 Hispanic children.
“I didn’t realize he was blind, because he gives the classes perfectly. Since my child’s been here he has improved a lot at home, he doesn’t get as upset and he’s calmer,” explained José Hernández, who takes classes along with his son at Cesario’s karate school.
On March 21, Cesario will appear before a judge to request a suspension of his deportation order. If he is successful, Cesario hopes to obtain a protection that would permit him to legally reside in the country, according to his lawyer, Chris Taylor.
“We feel powerless. We feel it’s unfair that other people who walk around stealing and committing crimes are free, and they want to throw out those of us who work,” said Mary Pena, while looking sadly at her husband’s trophies and recognition as a community leader and karate expert.
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