Mom, daughter's deportation halted for now

A Stony Brook University student and her mother who were to report today for deportation to Bangladesh won't be forced to leave the country -- at least not now, according to a spokeswoman for Rep. Joseph Crowley, (D-Queens).

The mother and daughter, Nadia Habib, 19, and Nazmin Habib, 43, had been scheduled to meet in Manhattan with Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials Thursday in preparation for deportation.

Instead, they will meet with ICE officials to file papers requesting that the deportation order be reconsidered, said Crowley spokeswoman Courtney Gidner last night.

Gidner said federal officials told Crowley's office that by filing the papers the mother and daughter will be able to remain in the U.S. at least for now.

"They have to show up for the meeting," Gidner said "The family can put in a request then, either a stay request or deferral. There is still the chance long term, but in terms of tomorrow's meeting, they will not be deported."

The mother and daughter of Woodside received a deportation order Sept. 10, and were to report for processing to government offices in the city Thursday.

But Crowley, Rep. Tim Bishop (D-Southampton) and the New York State Youth Leadership Council, an advocacy group for undocumented youths, have come to their support.

Habib, came to the United States with her mother when she was less than 2. The teenager and her mother do not have documentation allowing them to remain in the U.S.

In a letter to ICE, Bishop urged the agency to reconsider deporting the pair.

Nadia Habib is studying psychology and biology at Stony Brook. The teenager said last night that she is cautiously optimistic she will be allowed to stay, but "we don't have anything in writing, yet."