Deported to South Africa for Voting

News Type: Event — Wed Dec 26, 2007 9:19 PM EST

Erhard left S. Africa when he was 15, signed with Selective Services when he was 18, and has been in the U.S.A. since. He is now 25.

Ten years ago, Erhard Van Vuuren left South Africa with his parents and moved to the United States. He was 15 years old. As required by law, he signed with Selective Services at 18 years of age. Soon after, a campaign drive soliciting students to register to vote assured Erhard that he was entitled to register. After all, they reasoned, he had signed up with Selective Services. Erhard did register to vote and that's not all.

Like any other patriot who has registered to vote and has a right to vote, he voted. Why wouldn't he? It would not make sense for him to register to vote and then not vote; After all, the campaign drive convinced him he was legally able to register.

This would turn out to be a mistake.

At the Van Vuuren family interview for citizenship, eager to provide beneficial information of how much of a good citizen he would be, Erhard volunteered the information that he voted. As a result, he was denied citizenship and will now be deported as per the letter from Immigration and Naturalization Services stating he lacks character because he voted whilst not being a citizen, and that is a deportable offense.

As of this article, Erhard lives in Charlotte, North Carolina with his mother and father who are U.S. citizens. Because they are now United States citizens they can no longer become permanent residents of South Africa again due to more political mish mosh.

Erhard Van Vuuren has no arrest record. No juvenile problems. No speeding tickets. He has grown up in the United States and has been here for ten years. His formative years, relationships and particularly his parents are here. He has no ties to South Africa and for him to get deported would be another American bureaucratic error.

They have until January 07th to file an appeal.

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Groups: Activism, Question Authority
Regions: Charlotte

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3.9

3.2

2.1

{"commentId":1303880,"authorDomain":"digits"}

Digits

I am saddened for this young man. His home is the U.S. I cannot imagine the fear currently plaguing him and his family.

Ignorance of the Law is no defense [in court as a rule of thumb] but doesn't the fact he registered for Selective Service at aged 18 prove he was trying to do everything right in order to become naturalized eventually? Then, that he volunteered the voting information at his interview...Preposterous.

This is PRECISELY the character we need in the United States.

Nevermind all the voter fraud by officials right?

Come on!

{"commentId":1303880,"threadId":"194481","contentId":"1187566","authorDomain":"digits"}

#1 - Wed Dec 26, 2007 9:50 PM EST

{"commentId":1303914,"authorDomain":"insert"}

insert_name_here

Lack of character?

The kid's trying to be as American as possible, trying to be a good citizen. He registered with the freakin' Selective Service, for crying out loud. Not to mention telling the truth to INS (ICE ) officials.

However, I have heard bad things about the Charlotte immigration office, such as kids being forced to wait a day or so to get fingerprinted, etc. Best of luck to the guy, although I'm not sure I would hope for much at this point...

{"commentId":1303914,"threadId":"194481","contentId":"1187566","authorDomain":"insert"}

1 vote

#1.1 - Wed Dec 26, 2007 10:10 PM EST

{"commentId":1303993,"authorDomain":"digits"}

Digits

This is new information regarding the Charlotte immigration office. Maybe Charlotte needs to be investigated. Thank you for your comment.

{"commentId":1303993,"threadId":"194481","contentId":"1187566","authorDomain":"digits"}

#1.2 - Wed Dec 26, 2007 10:48 PM EST

{"commentId":1304032,"authorDomain":"insert"}

insert_name_here

(To be clear, by "kids", I mean teenagers and college students, my peers. Not like 4-year-olds, although I don't know for a fact that hasn't happened. I've never been, just heard from immigrant friends)

{"commentId":1304032,"threadId":"194481","contentId":"1187566","authorDomain":"insert"}

#1.3 - Wed Dec 26, 2007 11:01 PM EST

{"commentId":1304120,"authorDomain":"silkmesh"}

Babel Fish

He can sue the US government, the case will not go to court and he will be given his citizenship. There has been an article on the vine, about Muslim's, that have had success in similar issues. The Imigration Office are tied down by government policies, this is the governments fault and not the Imigration office.

{"commentId":1304120,"threadId":"194481","contentId":"1187566","authorDomain":"silkmesh"}

2 votes

#2 - Wed Dec 26, 2007 11:55 PM EST

{"commentId":1304142,"authorDomain":"insert"}

insert_name_here

I'd love those links.

I'm not sure how much legal ground he has to stand on. He did break the law by perjuring himself. North Carolina voter registration forms require you to check "UNDER PENALTY OF PERJURY" that you are a US Citizen. (I filled one out a few weeks ago...)

{"commentId":1304142,"threadId":"194481","contentId":"1187566","authorDomain":"insert"}

1 vote

#2.1 - Thu Dec 27, 2007 12:11 AM EST

{"commentId":1304263,"authorDomain":"silkmesh"}

Babel Fish

I have tried to trace the seed or article, it would seem that I have just read the seed. Sorry, but evidently many muslim have started to sue the US government as they have had troubles getting their data processed. The cases are settled out of court. There is no doubt that any sensible Judge would grant this young man nationality.

{"commentId":1304263,"threadId":"194481","contentId":"1187566","authorDomain":"silkmesh"}

1 vote

#2.2 - Thu Dec 27, 2007 1:50 AM EST

{"commentId":1304592,"authorDomain":"digits"}

Digits

I had to check the same box swearing to my citizenship but doesn't the fact he was 18 AND "talked into it" by the campaigners bear any relevancy?

I was 18 when I signed my first binding contract accidentally. Don't you know the person "talking me into it" assured me it was "mumbo jumbo" and all I had to do was listen to him?

Speaking of, THAT should be a crime. At 18, in the U.S. that's the first exposure we've got to legally binding *anything* with our signatures - there needs to be a class before graduating H.S. to begin with. I didn't have Contract Law until college. Heh.

{"commentId":1304592,"threadId":"194481","contentId":"1187566","authorDomain":"digits"}

1 vote

#2.3 - Thu Dec 27, 2007 8:30 AM EST

{"commentId":1306925,"authorDomain":"insert"}

insert_name_here

Depends on what "talked into it" means. Its his duty to figure out whether he's telling the truth or not. Most campaigners assume that most people they encounter are US Citizens, and if they're not, know they can't vote.

{"commentId":1306925,"threadId":"194481","contentId":"1187566","authorDomain":"insert"}

#2.4 - Thu Dec 27, 2007 10:03 PM EST

{"commentId":1304181,"authorDomain":"Henryvii"}

Henry VII

I find it odd that he thought anyone who felt like it could vote...

{"commentId":1304181,"threadId":"194481","contentId":"1187566","authorDomain":"Henryvii"}

1 vote

#3 - Thu Dec 27, 2007 12:39 AM EST

{"commentId":1305441,"authorDomain":"pixiequix"}

pixiequix

This whole situation sounds terribly unfair.

I'd be curious to find out who he voted for... I dunno, does anyone really think a vote for Bush would even entertain deportation from the country? With the way things are currently though, I'll bet a vote for anyone besides Bush might do the trick. Or perhaps I'm being too cynical, maybe it wasn't even a presidential election. Hmmm.

{"commentId":1305441,"threadId":"194481","contentId":"1187566","authorDomain":"pixiequix"}

1 vote

#4 - Thu Dec 27, 2007 1:15 PM EST

{"commentId":1308341,"authorDomain":"lucecorner"}

Luci-219777

I am his mother.

It happened in NJ. I remember him coming home and telling me about it. He specifically TOLD the vote campaigner that he was NOT a citizen. He was then assured that it would not be a problem, as the Selective Service registration would qualify him.

I, as his mother, believed it.

I always fought injustices wherever I was. In South Africa I fought against apartheid and became a card carrying member of Nelson Mandela's African National Congress (the current ruling party); when it was still illegal, and Mr Mandela was still in jail. I risked my freedom (and very much my life), when I went to a secret place late one night and met with them to become a member.

As a student I marched in Pretoria, South Africa against the police state we were living in. I marched in Washington and London against GWB's illegal war in Iraq. I fought for gay rights; whenever I believed people were treated unfairly, I tried to make a difference.

My other son marched with the Palestinians in Israel against the occupation of the West Bank.

I taught my children that having compassion was more important than material possessions. I taught them to be socially compassionate people. Erhard (my son who is facing deportation), often brought home homeless children. Two of these children stayed with us for years and still call me mom.

I taught them never to judge people by appearances but to look at the heart. I taught them not to just be a name on a piece of paper, but to TAKE action. I taught them to always tell the truth.

Today, even with this terrible threat hanging over our heads, I still believe I did the right thing. Erhard was only to happy when he was told he could vote, because I taught them one can change the world, one person at a time.

Not once did it cross my mind that I would have to fight for my own flesh and blood.

{"commentId":1308341,"threadId":"194481","contentId":"1187566","authorDomain":"lucecorner"}

1 vote

#5 - Fri Dec 28, 2007 12:08 PM EST

{"commentId":1308348,"authorDomain":"lucecorner"}

Luci-219777

Oh, he voted Independent.

{"commentId":1308348,"threadId":"194481","contentId":"1187566","authorDomain":"lucecorner"}

1 vote

#6 - Fri Dec 28, 2007 12:09 PM EST

{"commentId":1308355,"authorDomain":"lucecorner"}

Luci-219777

He was given a small card to fill out. Only his name and SS were requested.

{"commentId":1308355,"threadId":"194481","contentId":"1187566","authorDomain":"lucecorner"}

1 vote

#7 - Fri Dec 28, 2007 12:11 PM EST

{"commentId":1310131,"authorDomain":"jt-odochartaigh"}

Sangfraud

When parents become citizens, do not minor children automatically become citizens with them? This is quite puzzling to me.

{"commentId":1310131,"threadId":"194481","contentId":"1187566","authorDomain":"jt-odochartaigh"}

1 vote

#8 - Fri Dec 28, 2007 9:22 PM EST

{"commentId":1310875,"authorDomain":"lucecorner"}

Luci-219777

He was not a minor anymore when he attended college.

{"commentId":1310875,"threadId":"194481","contentId":"1187566","authorDomain":"lucecorner"}

#9 - Sat Dec 29, 2007 9:00 AM EST

{"commentId":1314072,"authorDomain":"digits"}

Digits

Luci - I hope the petition goes well and that the fund helps. More than anything I want you to know so many people are rooting for Erhard and you have so much support that you can't see [here in cyberspace]. But we're here and most of us know this is a serious problem and he needn't be deported. This is just stupid red tape and he's just a number. They need to know this is NOT the case. That he is a person with a life in America and *whomever's* mistake it was...it needn't be cause for Erhard to lose this life he's grown to know...and to lose contact with his parents and friends.

It's nuts. I have prayed every day.

{"commentId":1314072,"threadId":"194481","contentId":"1187566","authorDomain":"digits"}

#10 - Sun Dec 30, 2007 7:04 PM EST

{"commentId":1627387,"authorDomain":"jalinea"}

JR-259289

Luci,

My younger brother, 25 yrs old, is facing the same threat of deportation. He has been in the US since he was 6 months old, from Mexico and is as American as you anyone could be. He also, trying to be an upstanding member of society, registered with the Selective Service when he turned 18. He was sent a voters registration card and did not realize the difference between being a legal resident and being a citizen.

He made a mistake and voted.... once. When he filed for his citizenship he told them that he voted without knowing that it was something that he should not have done. He received the same letter threatening deportation. Tuesday the March 25th was his appointment with Homeland Security and now he has to produce documentation that his parents were citizens of the US. My parents raised him, and my aunt signed him over to them when he was an infant, but he was never actually adopted by my parents.

We are all worried and reaching out for help contacting as many people as we can for advice. We have 30 days to respond. He doesn't know any Spanish and has a son whom he just got full custody of this year. He has never gotten in trouble, he's always been a good kid. If you have any direction for us please email me.

Please let me know how your son's situation is going.

{"commentId":1627387,"threadId":"194481","contentId":"1187566","authorDomain":"jalinea"}

1 vote

#11 - Thu Mar 27, 2008 4:47 PM EDT

{"commentId":1627952,"authorDomain":"insert"}

insert_name_here

Get a good lawyer.

And also, try contacting your Congressman and Senators. They can probably intercede with the Department of Homeland Stupidity.

{"commentId":1627952,"threadId":"194481","contentId":"1187566","authorDomain":"insert"}

1 vote

#11.1 - Thu Mar 27, 2008 7:15 PM EDT

{"commentId":3195439,"authorDomain":"norma317"}

Norma Nunez

see this article

{"commentId":3195439,"threadId":"194481","contentId":"1187566","authorDomain":"norma317"}

#12 - Mon Sep 29, 2008 3:17 AM EDT

{"commentId":3204038,"authorDomain":"norma317"}

Norma Nunez

Looks like the link didn't show up. Here it is again. Hopefully it will work.

{"commentId":3204038,"threadId":"194481","contentId":"1187566","authorDomain":"norma317"}

#13 - Mon Sep 29, 2008 1:56 PM EDT

{"commentId":4285391,"authorDomain":"digits"}

Digits

He was found innocent!

The following is from the petition:

Thank you to all of you who signed my petition. My son was found innocent today and we can put all of this behind us. All of you had a part in this, each and every person who read and signed it helped us to keep our son in America.

I do not have the words to thank you, to tell you what your love and support meant and still mean to us.

It is heartwarming to know that you cared enough to take the time to help us. I have received so many messages of support during this time, so many phone calls and letters that I still find it hard to believe.

Thank you

{"commentId":4285391,"threadId":"194481","contentId":"1187566","authorDomain":"digits"}

#14 - Thu Dec 4, 2008 4:03 AM EST

{"canLink":false,"threadId":"194481","isPrivate":false}

DIGITS

Backyard

Deported to South Africa for Voting

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