LAWSON, Mo. (WDAF) — The sponsored son of a Missouri pastor has been informed by the government that he will be deported before the end of the month.
Last week, the Department of Homeland Security decided to terminate certain parole programs for 'aliens' who are nationals of certain countries, including Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela.
The specific parole program granting Missouri resident Wendy (Wendsy) Desrivieres two years in the U.S., starting April 2024, is now set to expire in one month - a year earlier than anticipated.
The Morris family runs VCU Church in Ray County, Missouri.
Pastor Ralph Morris said he understands there are people in the U.S. who have entered illegally, but said his son is here legally. Despite that, a new document says Desrivieres has one month to leave the United States.
Born and raised in Haiti, Desrivieres left because of the crime.
Desrivieres met the Morris Family more than 10 years ago. Soon after, the Morris family began sponsoring him.
"They replaced my family, my mom and dad. I lost my mom when I was 11. I lost my dad when I was 8," Desrivieres said. "I don't know what can I say to let them know how much I love them."
He's been in the United States since April of 2024, under the impression of at least a two-year stay.
Desrivieres says as he’s using his faith to help navigate what’s next.
"I follow Him," he said. "This is the only thing I can do."
"It’s not just Wendsy," Morris said. "There are 530,000 people that have received this notification. They have to be gone. They have to leave our country within the next 30 days."
Morris has been with the church for 34 years. He's also a board member for a mission group that's established a number of programs.
"[We've] established seven churches, four schools, enrollment of about 2,000 children," Morris said. "We have a feeding program. We also meet all the Haitian criteria for being a school."
Morris said it was through that program that he met Desrivieres and his younger brother.
"He needed the support, and Diana and I chose to support him," Morris said.
The Morris' allege they have done everything the right way, and they don't know why they're facing this now.
"Do we welcome immigrants in, if they come legally, and are pursing the citizenship process? Is that true or is that not?" Morris asked. "Because we have done everything legally; we used a government-sanctioned program, the Refugee Parole Program, to bring him to the United States,
Morris said the only way to bring him to the United States was through the Refugee Parole Program. Morris said that's because the U.S. Embassy in Haiti was closed on Aug. 8, 2023, so he couldn't get a visa.
"He has appeared twice within the Immigration Service," he said. "He’s been interviewed. He’s been fingerprinted. He has a permanent residence. They know where he is. They know what he is doing."
He said Desrivieres has a Social Security card and is employed full-time.
But on Friday, the letter came stating that his son must leave the country by April 24.
"We've had people write letters, notarize them. We have affidavits, people verifying his character. We just want somebody to listen—somebody to hear us and answer some questions," Morris said. "In my mind, I’m thinking, we've got everything processed…why is he getting a letter of deportation?"
Morris said a green card has been applied for but there hasn't been much correspondence regarding it.
The Morris family is hoping he's not sent back to Haiti.
"If he is returned to Haiti on April 24, when he walks off that plane, he is immediately homeless, because he has already surrendered his apartment," Morris said. "He has given up his transportation, his motorcycle that he owned. He has no job [in Haiti], no source of income whatsoever. We've been given 30 days to do this; it’s just not enough time, and we don’t understand what we've done wrong."
The Homeland Security document, obtained by Nexstar's WDAF, says in part, "If you have not obtained a lawful basis to remain in the United States and do not depart the United States by the date your parole terminates, you will begin to accrue unlawful presence in the United States unless you are otherwise protected from such accrual."
In Desrivieres' situation, his document states "…Your parole will terminate upon the earlier of (1) your original parole expiration date or (2) April 24, 2025. You should depart the United States now, but no later than the date of the termination of your parole."