An Iranian bicyclist, Reza
Balouche, who has been touring the world on a peace mission, has been granted
asylum in the
United States
after being arrested for entering illegally from
Mexico
on his bicycle. Before Border Patrol Agents in
Arizona
arrested him, he had ridden 46,000 miles through 54 countries on six
continents. He was on peace mission around the world, which he planned to end at
Ground Zero in
New York City
. Balouche had been waiting in
Mexico
for a visa to enter but inadvertently entered the
United States
while cycling near the border. He was sleeping in a tent and did not know he
was in the
U.S.
until a Border Patrol helicopter came down to get him. He was arrested on
November 10, 2002
and detained at
Florence
,
Arizona
.
Balouche,
30 years old, says that he pedaled up to 180 miles a day. Articles published in
newspapers from
South
Africa
to
South
America
support the story of his mission. He also has a binder with photographs that
show interesting details of his trip. Balouche faced numerous obstacles
including traveling in all kinds of weather, earning money and applying for
foreign visas. When he ran out of money he found work or was taken in by new
friends. Further, Balouche applied and received visa to enter the countries he
rode through. Many countries gave him peace medals. The Border Patrol arrested
him near San Luis. Balouche could not pay the $5,000 bond so he was in detention
until his plea was heard. Victoria Lopez, staff attorney with the Florence
Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project said, “Even being incarcerated, he has
this sort of attitude: ‘I’m not really in jail; I’m a free person.’”
He ran laps during the whole two hours he received in the recreation yard. An
INS officer said, “He runs fast. And he never stops. It makes me sick the
shape he’s in.”
