Photos credit: Isseu Diouf Campbell
Anxious about his fate, supporters of Senegalese political activist Ousmane Tounkara rushed to Craig Relles, the lawyer they waited for all day outside the immigration court building on Varick Street in Manhattan. Some supporters were there as early as 8 in the morning.
As soon as Craig Relles came out of the building after 5 p.m., supporters hastily crossed the street.
They learned that Ousmane Tounkara would not be released for the Muslim celebration Eid scheduled on May 13 as some had wished for. But he won’t deported.
“Today is a positive day, a good day,” said Craig Relles. “There are no worst-case scenarios. The fact is Tounkara has been granted relief. An immigration judge found that his life would be in danger based upon his political activism if he was returned to Senegal and she ruled that he should be able to remain in the United States.”
Craig Relles notified the crowd that the Department of Homeland Security, which arrested and detained Ousmane Tounkara had 30 days to appeal the case to a higher court.
If they choose not to appeal, Ousmane Tounkara will be released to return to his wife and five children who leave in New York.
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