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5B THE DAILY ASTORIAN • FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2017 Questions arise after US frees asylum-seeker on life support Family grieves By AMY TAXIN and KRISTA LARSON Associated Press COLTON, Calif. — As the eldest son among 15 children, Senegalese tailor Saliou Ndiaye was his fami- ly’s greatest hope for a better life in a city rife with unem- ployment where many still travel by horse-drawn cart. He learned to sew as a child, and for years sent money to his parents — first, from his country’s capital and later from a factory job in Brazil. But after Ndiaye embarked on a lengthy jour- ney to the United States, their dreams were dashed. A U.S. immigration judge denied Ndiaye’s asylum applica- tion in July, and after a year locked up in California, Ndiaye reportedly tried to kill himself. Now, the 33-year-old lies in an American hospital bed, hooked up to tubes keep- ing him alive. Immigration authorities recently stopped efforts to deport Ndiaye and released him from custody in a decision that under nor- mal circumstances would be cause for celebration but in this case has drawn criticism from his supporters. Ndiaye’s story is tragic and exceptionally rare but raises questions about the U.S. government’s responsi- bility for detainees’ medical care in an immense immigra- tion system, where more than 300,000 people cycle through detention centers each year. In an ironic twist, Ndiaye’s volunteer lawyer is asking an immigration judge to find the government can’t properly release an unconscious per- son, and order Ndiaye back into custody. She wants the U.S. government to remain responsible for his care and potentially his return to Sen- egal, where Ndiaye’s parents pray for a miracle. “He is our great hope,” said his father, Mor Ndiaye, clutching Muslim prayer beads during an interview at the family’s home in Touba, Senegal’s second-largest city. “Everything he has done, he did it to support his family.” AP Photo/Amy Taxin Attorney Carrye Washington stands in front of the Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton, Calif. where her client Saliou Ndiaye remains on life support. ‘I don’t want to tell them to take him off a machine and die. The doctor said only the machine is keeping him alive, and if it were turned off he would die within minutes.’ Mor Diagne uncle of Saliou Ndiaye U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is responsible for detainees’ care of regardless of where they’re held. Financial sense It can make financial sense for the government to release ailing immigrants to avoid providing security for them and paying costly medical bills that hospitals would cover anyway for poor patients, said Dr. Marc Stern, a former medical expert for the Department of Home- land Security’s Office for Civil Rights and Liberties, which investigates detention complaints. But in some cases, the government also may have an incentive to free gravely ill immigrants because deaths in detention must be investi- gated and reported to Con- gress and the media. “It may count against them if he dies in custody,” Stern said. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokeswoman Lauren Mack said Ndiaye was freed for humanitarian reasons and so his family and doctors could make medical decisions for him. She declined to discuss how immigration authori- ties handle suicide attempts in detention, but said a report was completed on Ndiaye’s case in line with agency standards. It isn’t the first time immi- grant advocates have raised concerns about the release of ill detainees. In 2015, Ethio- pian immigrant Teka Gulema was hospitalized for an infec- tion while in detention in Alabama. He was guarded by authorities for nearly a year but freed less than two months before his death in a hospital bed, said Chris- tina Mansfield, co-founder of Community Initiatives for Visiting Immigrants in Confinement. As of last week, Ndiaye lay in a hospital bed at Arrow- head Regional Medical Cen- ter, in the Southern Califor- nia city of Colton, with a tube through his neck to help him breathe and another one for feeding. His eyes gazed into the distance, then closed, as his chest rose and fell. He didn’t respond to visitors. Arrowhead declined to provide information about Ndiaye. But Ron Boatman, its associate administrator, said the hospital covers medi- cal costs for indigent patients when no one else can pay. Back in Senegal, Ndiaye’s family grieves for a son they can’t help. Why he ended up so far away is a mystery. Ndiaye grew up in Touba and attended a Muslim school. By age 10, he would bring his mother whatever coins he earned sewing. Eventually, Ndiaye moved to the capital of Dakar to work as a tailor, sending home money each month. In 2013, he told his parents he had a visa for Brazil and asked them to pray for him. He traveled to the South American country and stayed there for two years, working in a factory and continuing to send home monthly contributions and for- warding grainy cellphone self- ies of his new life. Without telling his parents, he left Brazil and traveled through nine Latin American countries by car, bus and foot to reach a U.S. border cross- ing in 2016. It is a lengthy trek often undertaken by Afri- can migrants, who upon reach- ing the United States tell bor- der authorities they are afraid to return home. Ndiaye told officials he left Senegal over economic troubles and religious differ- ences with his family, and was sent to a California detention facility. The family learned of his whereabouts when Ndiaye called a younger brother and told him he was detained. Ndiaye’s relatives could only speculate why he went to America. His uncle, Mor Diagne, has lived here for 35 years, and they thought maybe he hoped to join him. At an asylum hearing, Ndiaye told an immigra- tion judge he actually fled his country because he is gay and feared he could be killed over his sexuality if returned. The judge, however, cited incon- sistencies in Ndiaye’s testi- mony, denied his application and ordered him deported. Ndiaye appealed and lost. He was due back in court for an October hearing but never made it. Suicide attempt Immigration officials called Diagne, a Connecticut street vendor, to say Ndiaye tried to kill himself using a sock and a towel. Diagne flew to California, and Ndiaye’s immigration lawyer, Carrye Washington, took him to the hospital to see his nephew. Two detention guards stood watch over Ndiaye, Washington said. Diagne signed papers for doctors to insert a feeding tube. “I don’t want to tell them to take him off a machine and die,” Diagne said. “The doc- tor said only the machine is keeping him alive, and if it were turned off he would die within minutes.” A week later, Immigra- tion and Customs Enforce- ment stopped trying to deport Ndiaye and released him from custody. A box with his belongings was sent to Diagne’s home. Diagne said he was afraid he’d be asked to pay for his nephew’s medical care, which he can’t afford. Mor Ndiaye is so grief- stricken he hasn’t told his wife the full extent of their son’s condition. The couple said they knew nothing of assertions in his asylum peti- tion that he was gay, which is illegal in Senegal. Other rel- atives speculated he said as much to bolster his claim. Since Ndiaye was detained, the family has been under increased finan- cial strain. His father went to Dakar to find work, and the family delayed baptizing Ndiaye’s niece and nephew because they can’t afford the customary party to feed friends and neighbors, which can cost $150 or more. It is unclear whether Ndiaye has any possibility of recovery or what will hap- pen to him. Washington has a December hearing before an immigration judge and hopes U.S. authorities eventually deport Ndiaye. “My dream is that he wakes up and goes to Sene- gal,” Diagne said. “If he is to die, I want him to die at home with his parents.” Larson reported from Touba, Senegal. Associated Press writer Ndeye Sene Mbengue in Touba, Senegal, contributed to this report. CLASSIFIEDINDEX classifieds NOTICES MARINE RENTALS Special Notices ............................. 104 Boats for Sale................................. 251 Public Notices ............................... 107 Boating Parts & Accessories ..... 254 Announcements .......................... 110 Boats Wanted ................................ 257 Boat Trailers ................................... 260 PERSONALS Marine Supplies & Equip. .......... 266 Lots & Found ................................. 181 Boat/RV Storage ........................... 269 Personals ........................................ 184 Fund-raisers ................................... 188 RVs & Trailers RVs & Travel Trailers ............ 301-307 AUTOMOTIVE Campers, Utility Trailers .... 310-313 Antiques/Classic Vehicles ......... 201 Automobiles .................................. 204 REAL ESTATE SUVs/Trucks .......................... 207-210 Open Houses ................................. 501 4WD .................................................. 213 For Sale ................................... 504-513 Vans .................................................. 216 Lots & Acreage .............................. 516 ATVs/Motorcycles ........................ 219 Income Property .......................... 519 Truck/Auto Parts .......................... 222 Manufactured Homes ................ 522 Detailing ......................................... 225 Commercial Property ................. 525 Tires & Wheels ............................... 228 Real Estate Wanted ..................... 531 104 Special Notices A small town newspaper with a global outlook T HE D AILY A STORIAN www.dailyastorian.com PETS/LIVESTOCK Vintage, collectibles, art, clothing and more! Wednesday-Sunday 11am-5pm 77 11th St, Astoria Pier 11 Building Occasionally other companies make telemarketing calls off classified ads. These companies are not affiliated with The Daily Astorian and customers are under no obligation to participate. If you would like to contact the attorney general or be put on the do not call list, here are the links to both of them Complaint form link: http://www.doj.state.or.us/ finfraud/ SPECIALTY SERVICES W E URGE YOU TO PATRONIZE THE LOCAL PROFESSIONALS ADVERTISING IN T HE D AILY A STORIAN S PECIALTY S ERVICES . T O PLACE YOUR S PECIALTY S ERVICES AD , CALL 325-3211. www.DailyAstorian.com WE GETRESULTS Animal Boarding .......................... 701 Feed-Hay-Grain ............................ 704 Pets & Supplies ............................. 710 Horses & Tack ................................ 713 DANIELLE MISCELLANEOUS CALL TODAY TO PLACE YOUR AD Fuel, Heating & Firewood ......... 807 Furniture & HH Goods ................ 810 BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES TV & Electronics ........................... 811 Business Opportunities ............. 643 Antiques & Collectibles ............. 813 Business for Sale .......................... 644 Jewelry ............................................ 814 Arts & Crafts ................................... 816 503-325-3211 or 800-781-3211 x231 Email: classifieds@dailyastorian.com Web: www.dailyastorian.com HELP WANTED Help Wanted .................................. 651 APPLIANCES & EQUIP. Work Wanted ................................. 652 Tools & Heavy Equipment ........ 851 Lawn & Garden Equipment ...... 854 SERVICES Appliances ..................................... 860 Childcare/Adult Care .................. 661 Medical Equip. & Supply ........... 866 Services ........................................... 664 Farm Equipment .......................... 923 THE DEADLINE FOR CLASSIFIED ADS is 1 p.m. the day before your ad is scheduled to run 110 Announcements 160 Christmas Trees New Patient Special Oja’s U-Cut Trees Nobles, Grands All Trees $30 Handmade Wreaths! 4 miles from Miles Crossing 90198 Youngs River Rd Astoria Daily:10am-4pm Treasure Alley 20% off entire store Black Friday through Christmas Eve 107 Public Notices One of the Pacific Northwest’s great small newspapers Properties for Rent ............. 601-613 Rooms & Roommates................. 616 Commercial Rental ...................... 619 Vacation Rentals .......................... 622 Storage Space ............................... 628 Wanted to Rent ............................ 634 RV/Mobile Home Space ............ 637 Dr. Stephanie White is inviting you to her practice to receive the highest quality care for your dental needs. 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We accept responsibility for the first incorrect insertion, and then only to the extent of a corrected insertion or refund of the price paid. To cancel or correct an ad, call 503-325-3211 or 1-800-781-3211 FIND IT, TELL IT, SELL IT! Classified ads! 503-325-3211 All classifieds require pre-payment 184 Personals 504 Homes for Sale Attention: Attorney K.Fuller Please Call V.Price 360-244-1865 PUBLISHER’S NOTICE 204 Automobiles 2007 Cadillac DTS 4-door 50,000 miles In perfect condition. $11k-Firm 503-440-9257 251 Boats for Sale Columbia River Limited Entry Gillnet Permit Comes w/project 26’ 1978 Fiberlay Sternpicker & Trailer. $6500/OBO 206.409.6112 Call 503-325-3211 to place a classified ad from the comfort of your own home! 301 RVs & Travel Trailers 2017 Jayco Jay Flight 25-ft Travel Trailer in Ilwaco. Literally brand new and never used. $19,500. Call 360-642-7116. All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Fair Housing Act which makes it illegal to advertise “Any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin, or an intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination.” Familial status includes children under the age of 18 living with parents or legal custodians; pregnant women and people securing custody of children under 18. This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis. To complain of discrimination call HUD at 1(800)669-9777. The toll free telephone number for the hearing impaired is 1(800)927-9275. GOLF GAME gone to pot? Sell those old clubs with a classified ad.