Franklin Ibeabuchi, 36, a Nigerian citizen, came to the United States when he was 10 years old. His family left Nigeria for Jacksonville after years of trying to hide Ibeabuchi in rural towns and special schools. Ibeabuchi is albino and his family worked tirelessly to protect and hide him from witch doctors.
In sub-Saharan Africa witch doctors believe the bones of albinos can bring wealth to their patients and that their potions are strongest when the sacrifice is pure. A pure sacrifice means the witch doctors severs the limbs of the living, often children, and leave them to bleed to death. These body parts sell for thousands of dollars per limb under the belief they possess special powers. These types of killings have occurred for generations. Since 2007, in Tanzania alone, there have been 59 documented albino killings.
More than 20 years after coming to the United States Ibeabuchi was threatened with removal to Nigeria following an arrest in 2003. The charge was later dropped but since Ibeabuchi’s student visa had expired he was placed in removal proceedings. Ibeabuchi’s son also suffers from albinism and if removed Ibeabuchi’s family would not accompany him back to Nigeria. With no family to serve as a support system and to help him hide Ibeabuchi would have been an easy target. Ibeabuchi told the immigration judge returning to Nigeria was unimaginable. In February 2011 an Orlando Immigration judge agreed that Ibeabuchi would be at risk if sent back to Nigeria and granted Ibeabuchi’s withholding of removal.
To date there has not been a similar case in United States and while the case was not precedent setting in a legal sense it does provide a foundation for other attorneys who want to pursue similar cases. The Florida Coastal School of Law’s immigration rights clinic and legal fellow Mr. Carlos J. Martin represented Ibeabuchi.
Withholding of removal does not provide a long-term solution but Ibeabuchi will soon be authorized to work again and can begin exploring his options for permanent residency.
To read the original news story please visit Jacksonville man fights deportation with his albinism as a defense.
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