Border
story:
The
Clandestine
swam
ashore
near
downtown
after
his
freighter
ran
aground
Tuesday,
eight
days
after
he
left
his
impoverished
island
seeking
a
better
life.
Unlike
others,
who
reach
dry
land,
this
immigrant
usually
is
denied
asylum
in
the
country
and
sent
back
to
his
homeland.
On
Wednesday
it
was
demanded
that
Governor
call
his
brother,
the
president,
and
persuade
him
to
treat
the
Immigrant
like
other
refugees.
"This
immigrant
is
standing
on
dry
land.
...
You
can
do
it,"
was
said
to
the
governor,
who
is
running
for
re-election.
Governor
told
to
the
press,
he
agrees
that
the
immigrant
should
be
released
until
his
asylum
request
is
heard.
He
had
said
earlier
that
he
spoke
to
some
officials
and
was
assured
the
immigrant
would
receive
"fair
and
decent
treatment."
"There
should
be
equal
treatment
and
that's
my
position,"
he
said.
"If
Governor
could
champion
the
issue,
he
could
shift
the
balance
in
the
election,"
said
the
president
of
the
Immigrant-
Grassroots
Coalition.
"The
time
for
lip
service
is
over."
However,
press
secretary
said
the
president
would
not
get
involved
despite
any
political
pressure
that
may
arise.
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