Springfield, Mo. – On Saturday, Oct. 28, a crowd of family members, students, faith leaders and immigration‑justice advocates filled the sidewalks of Missouri State University to call for the release of Professor Paul Essel, a long‑time faculty member who has been detained in Greene County Jail since Oct. 7.
Family voices and community support
Essel’s wife, Pearl, stood before the gathered crowd and said, “We are ready for whatever happens. We are survivors. We have been survivors all our lives, and this will not break us.” Their daughter, the youngest of five, was heard asking, “Is Daddy coming home?” – a painful reminder of the personal toll the detention has taken.
Essel’s sister, Angela Opuni, described her brother as a mentor and hard worker, adding, “It hurts. We are all very hurt.” Opuni emphasized the impact on their children, who miss their father’s daily presence.
Student and faith leaders join the protest
Among the demonstrators was Amanda Gott, a member of the Immigrant Justice Corps and a Missouri State student. Gott urged the crowd, “We can all come together and stand up for our neighbors, our friends, our family, for people like Paul Essel and his family.” She noted that more than 5,000 undocumented individuals lack a public rally for their cause.
Faith leaders, including Dominique Moore of the Southern Missouri Immigration Alliance, highlighted the uniqueness of the case, saying, “It’s a state university faculty member. This is not the norm, so to speak, as what people expect.” Dozens of local churches and community groups stood in solidarity.
Legal background
Federal court records show Essel arrived in the United States from Ghana on a student visa in 2003. He obtained residency through his first marriage in 2008, but his citizenship application was denied in 2012. An immigration judge ordered his removal in February 2015 after finding the marriage fraudulent. Although his current wife, Pearl, filed a petition that was approved in 2018, the removal order remains in effect.
In an email response to KY3, ICE officials stated, “He received due process and was ordered removed by an immigration judge on February 4, 2015. This administration will not ignore the rule of law. He will remain in ICE custody pending removal. Being in detention is a choice. We encourage all illegal immigrants to take control of their departure.” The agency also noted a voluntary departure program offering $3,000 and a free flight to those who self‑deport.
Bond request denied
Essel’s recent request for bond was denied, prompting his family to reiterate his character. “Paul is not a criminal,” Opuni said. “He loves this country. Everything about America is great to him. To see him go through this is just really hard.”
The protest concluded with chants for Essel’s freedom and a promise from his family to continue advocating for his release while respecting the legal process.
Original reporting: KY3 Springfield (local) — read the source article.
