Esdras comes home and Avelo Boycott expands

This Labor Day weekend highlighted the release of rising Wilbur Cross junior Esdras Zabaleta-Ramirez after his illegal abduction by ICE, and an expanded campaign to boycott Avelo Airlines for their deportation flights.

In an extraordinary victory, Esdras Zabaleta-Ramirez has won his freedom from the Department of Homeland Security, averting deportation. He is now home with his family and able to continue his education after going through a traumatic nightmare.

Esdras, an active participant with CT Students for a Dream, was illegally abducted while working at a carwash. His classmates, teachers and elected officials immediately rallied to his defense. Funds were collected, and a lawyer obtained.

Just as Isdras was about to be deported from a detention facility in Louisiana, legal intervention brought him back to a detention facility in New England and now back to his home and family. DHS is not appealing the decision ordering his release. Esdras received a huge welcome back and will be able to attend his classes and activities at Wilbur Cross High School.

Attentions are turned to the dozens of migrants being abducted throughout Connecticut and detained for deportation, overwhelming the capacities of immigrant rights organizations to obtain legal assistance and help the families affected. A call has been issued for volunteers as the assault by ICE and the Trump administration escalates.

Boycott Avelo Airlines

At a Boycott Avelo information table with New Haven Immigrants Coalition during the annual Labor Day roadrace, Leslie Blatteau, president of the New Haven Federation of Teachers said, “We as a teachers’ union believe that we should not put profits over people and that we should not engage in cooperation with a business that is separating families. We want our students and families to feel safe to come to school every day.”

The Boycott Avelo campaign has been expanding. Foxon Law, patrons of New Haven's annual Labor Day road race, declined sponsorship of Avelo Airlines this year refusing to become complicit in the deportation flights harming the immigrant community in the interest of corporate profits.

The City of New Haven has cut all business with Avelo as has the Yale Department of Athletics. Pressure is now being placed on Yale to end all travel with Avelo.

The economic pressure has caused Avelo to close some operations on the west coast. In cities across the country the Boycott Avelo campaign has been picked up by immigrant rights groups until the airline stops all deportation flights and their complicity in separating families.