{"id":2762,"date":"2015-07-16T00:12:41","date_gmt":"2015-07-16T00:12:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/unitederitreamedia.com\/blog12\/?p=2762"},"modified":"2015-07-16T00:12:41","modified_gmt":"2015-07-16T00:12:41","slug":"portland-worker-to-be-deported-to-country-he-does-not-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/unitederitreamedia.com\/blog12\/2015\/07\/16\/portland-worker-to-be-deported-to-country-he-does-not-know\/","title":{"rendered":"PORTLAND WORKER TO BE DEPORTED TO COUNTRY HE DOES NOT KNOW"},"content":{"rendered":"
Thomas Amanuel<\/strong> is a refugee from Eritrea who left his country when he was 1 year old<\/strong> with his mother. They left in the middle of a war of independence, and right before a military coup that deposed the emperor. They lived hidden or 3\u00a0years before coming to the US.If deported\u00a0<\/strong>Thomas<\/strong>\u00a0would be sent back to a country he does not know, and which has no record of him due to the political instability of and the changing regimes.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

At 3\"Screen<\/a>8 he is a valued worker in a small business in Portland, Oregon, where he has lived since he was 5.\u00a0He is the main caretaker for his elderly mother, Elsa, who is a U.S. citizen.<\/strong> He also\u00a0volunteers in his community\u00a0and helps his\u00a0elderly neighbors and other immigrants from\u00a0Eritrean community in the Portland area.<\/p>\n

If it were not for bad legal advice that his mother received when they first came to the country, Thomas could be a citizen like her<\/strong>. Now, a simple theft conviction has not allowed him to naturalize. The charge was the result of a plea bargain that Thomas agreed to, even though he had no appropriate legal representation and little understanding of his options. This charge, and a DUI conviction from almost 10 years ago, are the factors ICE has relied on to detain and place Thomas in deportation proceedings.<\/p>\n

Thomas has\u00a0been in immigration detention for almost\u00a0a year in Tacoma, but had been held in detention before for 3 years. Then he was recently transferred to California, where it is much harder for his family and community to visit and support him. They\u00a0fear that his transfer means that he\u00a0could be deported at any moment, even while his attorney files requests to review his immigration and criminal case.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Thomas could be deported at any moment. Please\u00a0help us stop his deportation and get him released from detention by making a call in support of his release and signing his petition.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Call the San Francisco\u00a0ICE Field Office Assistant Director Craig Meyer at 415-844-5690<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sample Script:\u00a0\u201cHello. My name is _______. I would like to give a message to Assistant Field Director Craig Meyer. I am calling because I am concerned with the detention and potential deportation Thomas Amanuel,\u00a0A 025-303-038. He left his country when he was 1-year old as a refugee, and has lived in Portland since he was 5. His elderly mother who is U.S. citizen depends on him. If deported, he would be sent back to a country he does not know, and that has no record of him due to the political unrest. I urge you to use prosecutorial discretion and release Thomas from detention\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n

And please send an e-mail to ICE urging them to release Thomas:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n