ORLANDO, Fla. — People in search of appointments with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Orlando have been waiting in line for days now and some have been coming back to this spot for more than a month.
Some of those people tell Channel 9 that they cannot leave because their life and future depends on it.
“I want to be a good citizen and do things right.” said Stephanie from Columbia. “So that’s why it’s important for me to stay in this line and sleep here.”
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Stephanie said her appointment was last Tuesday and has been sleeping in a tent so she does not miss her chance to meet with officials.
“I am very scared because they could tell me at any moment that I didn’t show for my appointment, and they could deport me,” Stephanie added.
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Eddie Mano signed up for an appointment on March 29. When he showed up for his appointment, the office was closed, and he has been coming back repeatedly ever since.
Mano told Channel 9 that ICE continues to send him letters telling him he needs to come in to see them. Mano keeps showing up to talk to someone about the letter, but he is unable to make it through the doors.
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Mano crossed the border in January, and this is his first appointment to get his papers in order.
Stephanie and Mano both said although their time, health and safety is not being respected they want to do things the right way so they can stay here in the United States.
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ICE responded to Channel 9′s request for an update and told us people can make appointments online to help things move faster.
As for those in line who already have made an appointment, ICE did not provide an explanation or a solution to help fix this problem.
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