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Superintendent Thurmond met virtually with Joseph, his mother, and their attorney, as well as in person with Joseph’s teacher and CSDF staff. Superintendent Thurmond was able to ask Joseph and his mother about how they were doing, and Joseph was able to have a conversation with his teacher about missing school and about classmates who miss him, too. When asked how he was feeling, Joseph said, “I want to go back to school.”
“In speaking with his family today, Joseph made it very clear what he wants. He talked with one of his teachers, which lifted his spirits, but his situation is concerning. Joseph does not understand Spanish, his family’s home language, and he received instruction in ASL and English at CSDF. Without access to further ASL-English instruction or his Deaf community, Joseph is at risk of language deprivation, which can have serious impacts on a child’s development and health,” Superintendent Thurmond said. “We must make this right. I am actively working with members of Congress to pursue every available avenue to return Joseph to his school community and bring his family back to California. I encourage everyone to contact their elected officials at the local, state, and national level to advocate for this family’s safe return.”
Superintendent Thurmond and attorney for the family Nikolas De Bremaeker provided an update on Joseph’s condition and advocated for his return during a press event later in the day.
“Without the proper care, Joseph is at risk not only because of his emotional and mental development, but to his physical health due to the potential of infection from lack of proper medical care [of his cochlear implant], which could jeopardize his life,” De Bremaeker said. “The family wanted asylum for a reason. They are in danger in Colombia and ICE violated due process in detaining Joseph, his mother, and brother. We are doing everything we can with the federal administration to have them safely returned.”
“Joseph’s language is American Sign Language, and at California School for the Deaf, Fremont, he can learn and grow in the only language he uses to communicate. This is where he has full access to communication with peers, teachers, and adults who support him every day, which is essential to his well-being and social-emotional development. Without access to an environment where he can learn in American Sign Language, he risks language deprivation, which poses serious risks to his healthy development.”
More information about the California School for the Deaf, Fremont, can be found on the CSDF website. A recording of today’s press conference can be viewed on the CDE Facebook page.
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