Rally held for family facing deportation

Randeniya family pleads for help from U.S. Rep. Castro

SAN ANTONIO – Dozens of supporters of Saman Randeniya’s family gathered for a rally near Jefferson High School Thursday morning hoping to call attention to the family’s plight.

Randeniya, who is from Sri Lanka, was picked up earlier this month by immigration officials and remains confined at a detention facility in Pearsall according to his son Kevin.

“They just told us ‘we’re arresting your dad and you’re going to have to leave on Jan. 7 or we’re going to put you in handcuffs and take you away,’ ” said Kevin.

Kevin, 15, and his sister are students are students at Marshall High School; a third sibling is a student at Northwest Vista College.

"It is tearing us apart emotionally and is really hard on the mind,” he said. “We losing hope and we’re just trying to get through this.”

Randeniya said that the family has reached out to U.S. Rep.  Joaquin Castro and have been told that his staff is busy working on their case.

“We want him to see what he sees in himself,” he said. “To see the hopes and dreams that he once had and maybe he can help us fulfill ours.”

The teen vowed that family members will continue their fight to stay in the only home they know, the United States, and are planning to file one final appeal on Monday.


About the Author:

Paul Venema is a courthouse reporter for KSAT with more than 25 years experience in the role.