Filipino American couple, living in U.S. for 20+ years, being deported based on technicality

From a friend:

Article: http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/patriotnews/article304373.ece

This hits home because they're the parents of a good friend of mine from high school, Shappine.

They've been in the U.S. for over 20 years, serving as a doctor and grocer in an underserved rural community in Pennsylvania. The community has come out to support the family and they have a lawyer on board, but it seems that ICE isn't hearing the outpour.

I'm talking to Shappine's cousin, who is a good friend of mine as well, and I'll keep y'all updated to see if we could support this somehow.

Here is an online petition from their local newspaper: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/servanofamily/

Peace,
Charles

p.s. - this article from Philly brings tears to my eyes and for y'all who have parents that worked hard in a small (and often environmentally abusive) business, it'll hit you, too. sheng kai dong is a young 'prodigy' who's dad is being deported, causing a horrible mess for the rest of the family. check it out at http://www.citypaper.net/articles/2007/11/15/the-prodigy