KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The arrest of a Park University teacher and father of three children from Bangladesh by ICE officers continued to bring shock to neighbors and family friends on Tuesday.
On Jan. 24, Syed Jamal was arrested in the front yard of his home by ICE officers while getting his children ready for school.
Jamal had overstayed a voluntary departure notice in 2011, but at the time the U.S. government allowed him to stay in the country under supervision.
However, that all changed nearly two weeks ago.
“When I first heard about this, I was really shook,” explained Turki Alanzi, a family friend who lives across the street from Jamal’s home. “I really didn't believe it because Syed is one of the nicest people you'd ever meet."
Alanzi told 41 Action News how he and his brother would often spend time with Jamal’s children during family gatherings.
His brother, Faisal, described Jamal as a caring and outgoing person.
“He's very generous and kind. Anything you ask of him or anything he could do to help any person out, he'll do it,” Faisal explained. “He used to help me with my math homework and my chemistry homework. He was a very nice guy. It's sad to see what happened to him."
Ever since Jamal’s arrest, Faisal said the neighborhood has been quiet.
On Tuesday, blankets and boards could be seen covering windows inside Jamal’s home.
Friends/family still shocked here in Lawrence following ICE arrest of Syed Jamal. Windows covered at family home pic.twitter.com/bDObKHzDqh
— Tom Dempsey (@KCTomDempsey) February 6, 2018
“Without them here, it feels like something is missing,” he explained. “I keep stepping outside and I don't see their car. I don't see their kids. It just feels like something is wrong or missing."
Despite Jamal continuing to be held behind bars at the Morgan County Adult Detention Center, support for him continues to be seen.
An online petition calling for a stop to his deportation had over 35,000 signatures as of Tuesday night, including two from the Alanzi brothers.
“I was just trying to do everything I could to help him. He's a very nice guy and he doesn't deserve any of this,” Faisal explained. “I’m just hoping and praying that he wouldn't be deported and he'd stay with us and our community."
