SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. ( Border Report )— Nabeel Younis needed only three weeks to student from Cuesta Community College in California’s Central Coast.
Younis, from Pakistan, received his certificate on Friday, about a month after a judge granted him prison, and many years after he began his journey to the United States.
As Catholics, Younis and his companions claim to have fled Pakistan after being brutalized and targeted by Muslim radicals.
They ended up in Panama to attend a Pope Francis-suffering children event.
In 2021, Younis and his companions left Panama for the U. S. Mexico borders.
They were robbed, assaulted, and jailed along with their companions on feet as they traveled through north Panama, Central America, and Mexico.
After a stay at a immigrant house in Tijuana, they set off for Mexicali, around 120 miles to the east, where they crossed into the U. S.
Border Patrol agents detained the group before finally transporting Younis to Calexico, California’s Imperial Regional Detention Facility. He had split up with his friends.
However, a judge granted him hospital in May after making numerous judge appearances and having to wear an ankle monitor.
During the prison approach, Younis lived with a partner, Fitzgerald Kelly, in San Luis Obispo, and that’s where he began taking college classes.
It has always been my desire to study in the United States since I first arrived in the country, according to Younis. When I first moved here, I remember the first question I had was,” How can I go to school?”
When Younis enrolled at Cuesta Community College, it would get him three weeks to student, which is the average requirement for four.
” San Luis Obispo has become a next home for me, but Fitzgerald Kelly is the one I owe everything to,” Younis said.
When a prosecutor granted Younis asylum a year ago, Kelly gave him a household and security, but he stepped back.
” His biggest benefit was that his English was so well- spoken, so he started off with a huge advantage over other refugees”, Kelly said.
When he obtained prison and a work permit, he began working at night shifts at Home Depot.
” I was riding my bike outside, two tasks and then to college, I was exhausted”, Younis said.
Finally, Younis saved much for a vehicle giving him more freedom.
However, he initially purchased a pricey piece of golf shoes with his savings, something he had always wanted.
” The initial money that he got, as soon as he amassed much, he got Air Jordans”, Kelly said.
He did n’t wear them at his graduation, but he was definitely walking on air.
It just seems like a vision to me, Younis said,” I still vividly recall the moment we attempted to enter the United States and all the problems we encountered in getting beaten up by organizations and being detained, not just in Mexico, but also in the United States.” I merely desired to find a place where I could live a really peaceful life, let alone go to school and earn my degree.
He claims that whenever he tells a story to someone, they often come to mind.
” They always ask why I have n’t written a book yet. When I tell them what’s happened to me, they say it’s completely incredible”.
Younis ‘ subsequent chapters in life does get written at Cal State University Channel Islands in Camarillo, California, about a two- hours drive north of San Luis Obispo.
” To remain my academic work, I’ve made the decision to go there.”
