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Deported dad's agony on toddler’s
birthday
25.10.13
AN IRISH father who was
deported as an illegal immigrant from the US says he
will have to watch his young son celebrate another
birthday via Skype.
Paul Ferguson was expelled from San Francisco in
2011 when his only child Dylan was just six weeks
old.
The Californian toddler turns three on November 9
and Paul says he is heartbroken at missing yet
another formative year in his son's life.
"Every time we Skype, I see a massive change in him.
When I hear him saying 'hello Daddy', I have to
fight the tears back," said the 29-year old from
Buncrana, Co Donegal.
"Just last Saturday he asked me if I could come and
play with him, or if he could come to my house to
see me. I belong with my son and he belongs with
me." |
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'Daddy's 4,970 miles away'. A recent
photo of Dylan who celebrates his third birthday in
California on November 9. |
Paul admits that being
forced to live apart from Dylan is his own fault
because he "broke the law" by outstaying his visa.
"I know it is my fault that I am not there but I am
living that prison sentence every day,” he said.
His says his campaign 'To Reunite a Father with his
Son' has received support from other Irish families
torn apart by deportation.
Paul his now pinning his hopes that new legislation
will be passed in the States allowing temporary
legal status to some of the country's 11 million
illegal immigrants including 50,000 undocumented
Irish.
Paul who recently returned to his hometown after a
stint installing air conditioning in Perth,
Australia, says he has spent nearly all of his life
savings on the campaign. He even travelled to
Moneygall, Co Offaly, in 2011 in the hope of getting
a personal letter to US President Barack Obama.
"I have sent thousands of letters, hundreds of them
registered. I have contacted countless members of
the Irish government and members of the American
government and the response I got was bleak at best.
"I have been refused twice for the right to travel
to him, once in Ireland and the other in Perth. On
legal advice I was told to come back to Ireland to
continue my campaign as it is my country of birth
and my fight would be stronger here. I am in the
process of submitting a new request for a visa." |
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US deportee Paul Ferguson holds
adored son Dylan during the child's brief visit to
Buncrana last December. |
While no longer a
couple, Paul says he is indebted to Dylan's mother
for allowing father and son to keep in regular
contact. She has also brought Dylan to Ireland
several times to see his dad.
"The fundamental foundation of life is for a child
to have access to both parents. My son is a lucky
child, I couldn't fault one thing about his mother.
She is a fantastic mother but he also needs his
dad," he said. |
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