Government programs for homeless immigrants to go home?
My friend, a deaf man from Guatemala, has no current ID. He was here (for about 20 years or so now) on a work visa, which he renewed every year for 17 years. In around 2002 or 2003, due to 09/11, he was told (at an immigration office) that he was no longer a "legal resident" as he was here on asylum (escape from a hostile country).
Our government listed all people here on asylum as "illegal immigrants" after that year and would not grant their work visa renewals.
He had a job, before his work visa expired . . . and his employer never checked it later. His paychecks had money taken out for taxes and everything. Thus, our government knew his whereabouts, etc. We even asked them to send him home, while we stood in the immigration office.
Anyway, now he is unemployed, living in a shelter with no current ID. Even if I buy him a ticket for Guatemala. He cannot get on a plane without current ID and new passport. They do not sell passports or ID to people without proof that they are who they are. He is in a Catch-22.
Anyone know a lawyer (immigration) in the Lancaster, Pennsylvania or New York City area that can handle this for free (he is broke and I am nearly broke)? Or a program where the government will give illegal aliens a FREE plane ride home to their country of origin (not deportation--we tried that and they won't do that for him)?
His mother, who is hearing, will tell any officials that she will greet him at the airport. He's a hard-working man of 46 years old, who always tries to work hard (if they would hire him back at his job) and never lied to the government about where he is or what he is doing.
We tried to get them to send him "home". He is willing to return to his mother and family in Guatemala! They wouldn't do it. They told us to leave the immigration office!!! He was standing right there . . . ready to go!