Please help STOP Thea Som's deportation!
From: anida yoeu esguerra
Sent: Wednesday, March 09, 2005
Subject: please help stop my friend's deportation!
Dearest Friends,
I urgently need your help! I don't ask for favors too often and that's because most of you know I'm a proud girl who likes to handle things on my own. Well this is something I can't handle on my own and this is a time when I need the help of my community - my friends, family, students, colleagues, fans, mentors, acquaintances and anyone else out there willing to help.
I am trying to save my friend Thea Som from getting deported to Cambodia! Just earlier this evening, I received a phone call informing me that immigration officers came to Thea's work area on Friday March 4; officers took him away and the deportation process is rapidly in progress. He could be deported to Cambodia - a country he has never known - as soon as this weekend!
Thea Som is a young Cambodian American brother I have been corresponding with through letters for the past 3 years. A fan in Massachusetts who had seen my work with I Was Born With Two Tongues had told me his story and asked if I'd be willing to write to him during his incarceration. She mentioned that Thea was also a young poet and she simply wanted to connect
him with another Cambodian American writer. To this day, I have never met Thea but have been thoroughly moved by his writings, poetry, and passion to create change. This past summer, I received a phone call from Thea telling me that he had finally been released and free to be with his family. He sounded so relieved and thankful over the phone. Since his
release, Thea has not only been a productive part of the local community but he's also been one hard working artist! He was deeply appreciative of the letters and poetry we exchanged and he wanted to continue our friendship. He was going to come to New York City to see Mango Tribe perform at Fordham University. He was going to continue to develop his performance work and tour with The Performance Project. You can read more details about Thea and his future plans below. Of course, all of this has suddenly changed!
All this is happening to Thea because of 1996 legislation stating that if an individual is convicted he loses his refugee status and can be deported. Since 9/11 and the Patriot Act (Homeland Security) there has been a mandate to remove non naturalized citizens from the US, beginning with people who have been incarcerated.
Thea's lawyer has exhausted all legal avenues. We are told that Thea's only chance is through mobilizing public support and political intervention at the federal level.
I need your help. Only the power of the people can stop this unfair deportation!
1.) Please take action right now: write a letter, email, send a fax or phone in your support. Details are below.
2.) Forward this email on to people you know and trust who will actually take some kind of action. Don't blindly forward this along - please personally urge people to take action.
If action is taken immediately we can help Thea Som. How you can help:
o Janice in Senator Kennedy's office: ph) 202.224.4543; fax) 202.224.2417
o Congressman Olver: ph) 413.532.7010; fax) 413-532-6543 fax) 202.225.8112
o Senator Kerry: Springfield: ph) 413.785.4610; fax) 413.736.1049 Boston: ph) 617.565.8519; fax) 617.248.3870
Washington: fax) 202.224.8525
o Billy in Congressman Neal's office: ph) 202.225.5601; fax) 202.225.5759
o Congressman Capuano: ph) 202.225.5601; fax) 202.225.9322
Joanne Cummeford at AFSC can answer them. She can be reached at 413.695.6059.
MORE INFO ON THEA SOM:
Thea Som (poet and Performance Project member) has never set foot in Cambodia. He was born in a refugee camp in Thailand as his parents fled the Khmer Rouge. His family came to the US in 1985 as refugees from the
war. Thea has been in the US since he was five years old. He is now twenty-four.
Thea, his parents, 5 brothers and sisters, 8 nieces and nephews, aunt, and cousins live in Amherst, MA. Thea spends a lot of time with his nieces and nephews, and they love him very much. Thea's grandparents live in Lowell, MA. They are a very close knit family. His mom, dad, and oldest brother as well as all his nieces and nephews are American citizens. Thea and two of his siblings are not.
Thea went through an extremely difficult time in high school. After graduating he was arrested, convicted and served time. While in jail he took every treatment program available to him, led meetings, worked in the library, took computer courses, wrote a book of poetry, spoke to youth and college students on issues of imprisonment, became certified as a literacy
volunteer for adults, tutored adults on getting their GED, and co-authored and performed with the Performance Project in 2000. After serving his time, Thea was transferred and held by Immigration to begin the deportation process.
In June 2004, Thea was released from INS. The next day he made contact with the Performance Project. He found a job immediately and began counseling. He also took the Hamden Sheriff's Department's mentorship training with After Incarceration Support System. Thea co-authored the Performance Project's last production, "Walk With Me," and performed in Northampton, MA and New Mexico. He became the Program Associate for the Performance Project organizing logistics, writing grants, and doing administrative work. Thea is applying to Hampshire College for Fall of 2005. Thea is a valuable member of our community and has contributed so much in the 9 months since his release. Losing Thea would be a huge loss for our community.
Respectfully Yours,
Anida Yoeu Esguerra,
The Performance Project,
American Friends Service Committee,
and Supporters of Thea Som
p.s. email me (minhthybach@gmail.com) and i'll send you the letter in .doc form. thanks.
posted by minhthy at 1:00 CH
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