Former Glenwood resident Akim Gama wins step in right direction

Development in deportation case will keep Gama stateside for time being

By John Gardner
Post Independent Staff
Glenwood Springs, CO Colorado
February 8, 2008

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GLENWOOD SPRINGS — An emergency stay of removal motion filed on behalf of Akim Henry Gama was approved Thursday by the Immigration board of appeals.
This development ensures that Gama will remain in the country until the board of appeals makes a decision regarding his deportation case.

“It’s an uphill battle but this is a change in his legal status,” said Gama’s attorney, Mark Barr, of Lichter and Associates in Denver. “It’s not a big win but it gives him legal protection here where before he could have been put on a plane and sent back any day.”

The stay of removal request was filed in December and Barr mentioned that these requests are not often granted on frivolous appeals and is an indication of a strong appeal in Gama’s case.

Gama was arrested Sept. 11, 2007, after missing an August 2006 court date regarding his application for asylum. He has been awaiting a decision in the case for nearly five months. Barr said he intends on submitting a parole request and is hopeful that the court of appeals will grant one.

He’s currently at an Aurora detention center, where he’s been since his arrest.
“They have the authority to release detainees on parole and now that we have the stay request and proof that he will stay until this issue is resolved, he’s got a good chance at being approved for parole,” Barr said.

However, that decision could take a few weeks according to Barr.
Gama worked at Rivers Restaurant in Glenwood Springs for about four years, until federal agents with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested him. Gama came to the country in 2000 to escape political turmoil in his native country, Zimbabwe.

His friend and former employer at Rivers, Anita Wan, said that she has had several letters written in support of Gama. Wan is going to send those letters to Barr, who will submit them to the board of appeals for review.

“We’ve received so many letters in support of Akim,” Wan said. “Any support from the community is helpful.”

The letters in support of Gama can aid in the parole decision according to Barr. And now they have an avenue for the community’s support. Wan is accepting letters of support at Rivers Restaurant in Glenwood Springs either by dropping them off in person or sent in the mail. She will then send them to Barr.

There is still the main issue of Gama ultimately being deported, but this recent decision is a step in the right direction, according to Barr.

“We fully expect that the board of appeals will send the case back down to the court of immigration for another decision,” Barr said. “That is what this is all about, getting Akim the option to tell his story in front of the judge. We are saying that he deserves his day in court and he hasn’t gotten that yet.”

Contact John Gardner: 384-9114jgardner@postindependent.com


Post Independent, Glenwood Springs, Colorado CO