Jones Invites Sister Of Deported Rockland Man To Biden Speech

Rep. Mondaire Jones (D-NY) announced Neomie Pierrilus as his virtual guest Wednesday for President Joe Biden’s Address to a Joint Session of Congress.

Pierrilus is the sister of Rockland County resident Paul Pierrilus, who was deported to Haiti in February despite not being a Haitian citizen and never having been to the country.

Pierrilus, a financial consultant who lived in Spring Valley, was brought to the United States at the age of 5 by his parents. Although his parents were formerly Haitian citizens, Pierrilus is not a citizen of Haiti nor had he been to the country — he was born in the French territory of St. Martin, which does not extend birthright citizenship.

He had been under an order of supervision since 2006; and, following procedure, he checked in at the New York City Field Office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Jan. 11. To his surprise, he was taken into custody.

The freshman congressman from the Hudson Valley partnered with attorneys to stop it. They found he was being flown to Haiti although the Department of Homeland Security had not approved the necessary documents. Pierrilus was pulled from the plane at the last minute.

Less than two weeks later, ICE unexpectedly flew him out.

"They knew he didn’t have a Haitian passport," his lawyer, Nicole Phillips, told the Miami Herald, "yet they deported him there anyway."

“Paul Pierrilus is one of thousands of people who have been wrongfully deported by the United States government,” said Jones. “I’m grateful that his sister Neomie has agreed to join me for President Biden’s State of the Union address to Congress. The story of Paul Pierrilus sheds light on the very real human impact of our deeply broken immigration system that quite literally tears families apart. I’m hopeful that, tonight, President Biden will address his plans for comprehensive, humane immigration reform - something that is long overdue - in his speech.”

SEE ALSO:

• Congressman Saves Rockland Resident From Deportation
• Rockland Resident Deported At 3AM