Community stepping up to help musician whose permanent visa was denied, faces deportation

[Sucker]

OKLAHOMA CITY —

Angelica Pereira moved to the U.S. 12 years ago after receiving a full scholarship to Oklahoma City University.

Her resume includes performing on a Grammy-winning album, playing the violin professionally for the Oklahoma City Philharmonic and teaching music instruction for a local nonprofit organization. But her work visa expired last month, and her petition for permanent residency was denied.

 

“Maybe the people who looked at it doesn’t understand maybe a musician’s profession and how we work,” Pereira said.

She told KOCO 5 that as soon as that decision came down, she looked for flights back to her home country of Colombia.

“In order to prove that I don’t want to break the law,” Pereira said.

The musician said she found a flight, but it was canceled because of COVID-19.

“You cannot plan ahead, at all. You’re just frozen in time,” Pereira said.

She added that what gives her comfort in this situation is all the community support, such as a sign that was put in her front yard that said “Angelica deserves to stay.”

“If this horrible, difficult situation that I’m being put through is worth anything, it’s worth that experience,” Pereira said. “I’ve never felt so loved and supported ever in my entire life.”

[Sucker]

Mana community la ila unity yeppudu chustham ani @tom bhayyabadha padthunde

[Boomer]

Just now, Sucker said:

Mana community la ila unity yeppudu chustham ani @tom bhayyabadha padthunde

Good post 

[Picheshwar]

Just now, Sucker said:

Mana community la ila unity yeppudu chustham ani @tom bhayyabadha padthunde

Legal ga unna valla meede edsi sache janalu manollu.. alantidi ilanti cases dorikite vadulutara.. ventane report chestaru ani @tom bhayya tolded

[Picheshwar]

Endhi anna @tom bhayya sound ledu!!

[tom bhayya]

8 hours ago, Picheshwar said:

Endhi anna @tom bhayya sound ledu!!

waste of time oka racist kill chesina family ney gofund meedha after so many years edusthaaru db lo 

[Picheshwar]

1 minute ago, tom bhayya said:

waste of time oka racist kill chesina family ney gofund meedha after so many years edusthaaru db lo 

alanti vallalo ee marpu endhayya??

[kidney]

11 hours ago, Sucker said:

Mana community la ila unity yeppudu chustham ani @tom bhayyabadha padthunde

manam cassette based support chestham kaka 

[tom bhayya]

47 minutes ago, Picheshwar said:

alanti vallalo ee marpu endhayya??

desi kaadhu kadha 

[Picheshwar]

19 minutes ago, tom bhayya said:

desi kaadhu kadha 

 

12 hours ago, Sucker said:

Mana community la ila unity yeppudu chustham ani @tom bhayyabadha padthunde