KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A chemistry instructor who was almost deported earlier this year will have the opportunity to present his case to a judge.
The Board of Immigration Appeals has agreed that Syed Jamal should be given an opportunity to present his deportation case to an immigration judge.
Jamal and his attorneys addressed the media Tuesday afternoon after learning that the threat of deportation is no longer imminent.
"We are all mightily relieved and thankful to the community," Jamal said.
In its decision, dated Aug. 9, the board found that “reopening is warranted.”
"The court will schedule a hearing and then at that hearing, the court will want to know what forms of relief Mr. Jamal and his family are applying for and then ultimately for a full trial," Rekha Sharma-Crawford, one of Jamal's attorneys, said.
ICE agents arrested Jamal in January 2018 because of a complication with overstaying his visa. Jamal was almost deported to Bangladesh. After his team of lawyers filed appeal after appeal, a stay of removal was granted in February. In March, a federal judge ordered Jamal to be released while an immigration board reviewed his case.
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In the meantime, Jamal is set to start a new semester at Donnelley College, has speaking engagements at Park University and is doing research work.
"We are working with KU and a few other institutions through our company and it may be published," Jamal said.
Multiple lawmakers, including Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, Congressman Kevin Yoder and Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins, became involved in Jamal’s immigration case as his lawyers fought for a stay.
"When an entire community comes together and least allows the light to shine onto the system, it allows for it to work in a way we all hope it does," Alan Anderson, another of Jamal's attorneys, said.
No court date has been set yet for the new case.
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