Malik Jarno, a 19-year-old orphaned immigrant from Guinea, West Africa, who was recently removed from York County Prison and placed in York’s International Friendship House impressed some of the nation’s legislators during his visit last week to Washington, D.C.  Jarno spoke to the directors of the Women’s Commission for Refugee Women and Children about his situation and got quite an emotional response, according to statements his pro-bono attorney, Christopher Nugent, made to the press. 

The Board of Immigration Appeals agreed to reopen his case on Monday, December 22, in part based on new evidence from experts in Guinea who confirmed that Jarno would be in real danger if deported to Guinea where he would be a homeless orphan subject to abuse on the streets of his home country.

After holding a half-hour conversation in French with Norway’s ambassador, Jarno asked Nugent to ask the ambassador to accept him if he’s deported.  Nugent told the press that Jarno is extremely worried about his future.  United States legislators that have promised to support Jarno’s effort include US Representative Todd Platts, R-York County, US Senator Rick Santorum, R-PA, and US Senator Ted Kennedy, D-MA.

On February 20, the Board of Immigration Appeals agreed to reopen his case based on new evidence.  Jarno is currently awaiting a new hearing before an immigration judge, although no date has been set.