Haitian Pastor Arrested by ICE Removed from Deportation Flight After Legal Suspension

Pastor Molis Augustave, a married father of two who has resided in Pennsylvania for six years, was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on September 5 following a detention by West York District Police for a broken lighthouse. His deportation was initially scheduled for Thursday, but immigration officials granted a last-minute suspension shortly before the scheduled date. This intervention allowed his application for permanent residence, commonly known as a green card, to be considered while he remains in custody.

Augustave, who serves at the Voice of Alert Church of God, is currently held in an ICE center in Louisiana. According to the We Are CASA defense group, he has been separated from his wife and two young children and has been moved between three different ICE centers in Pennsylvania and Louisiana over the past two weeks. The suspension of his deportation order provides a window for legal proceedings to continue, though his physical separation from his family persists during this period.

Ama Frimpong, Chief of Services and Legal Defense for We Are CASA, stated that Augustave expressed fear to his wife on Thursday night as he was preparing to board a plane, only to be removed at the last minute. Frimpong described the event as a victory and a moment of hope. The organization filed an emergency motion to reopen his deportation process and requested an emergency suspension of deportation before the Immigration Appeals Board, both of which remain pending.

Augustave also has a pending I-485 application with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to apply for permanent residence from within the United States. Frimpong noted that while the suspension has gained time, the situation is not resolved, emphasizing the need for vigilance and holding the Department of Homeland Security accountable for its duties. The legal status of his case remains active as these applications are processed.

ICE officials told FOX43 that Augustave met Border Patrol agents in 2016 after illegally entering the U.S., but was later released. In March 2018, an immigration judge ordered him to leave the country. These prior legal encounters form the backdrop for his current detention, which occurred after the Department of Homeland Security eliminated Temporary Protection Status for Haitian migrants this summer.

Augustave was expected to be one of 90 Haitians on a deportation flight, according to NewsNation. He was withdrawn from the flight following a national campaign involving religious leaders, elected officials, and community organizations. These groups demanded that the pastor be allowed to remain in the country with his family while his application for permanent residence is pending, highlighting the intersection of immigration policy and community advocacy.

The case underscores the tension between institutional enforcement and the pursuit of justice and mercy, themes reflected in Micah 6:8, which calls for doing justice, loving mercy, and walking humbly with God. As legal proceedings continue, the focus remains on the accountability of institutions and the protection of families, ensuring that the rights of individuals are respected within the framework of the law.

Source: Read the original report (translated from Spanish)