Authorities cut short a Cambodian American refugee’s taste of freedom immediately after his release from San Quentin Prison north of San Francisco, reports the Sacramento Bee.
Tith Ton spent 22 years in prison for the murder of a rival gang member. Supporters say he had turned his life around and became a licensed substance abuse counselor while in prison. He also received his GED and mentored other inmates while assisting with ethnic studies classes and supporting his family from behind bars.
Family members were on hand to greet him outside San Quentin, but so were contractors for ICE who immediately took him into custody.
Governor Gavin Newsom allowed for Ton’s detention despite pleas from supporters who urged Newsom to grant clemency.
“It’s deeply disappointing that the governor is choosing to work with ICE,” said Anoop Prasad, an attorney with the Asian Law Caucus, said to GV Wire. “It’s an unjust and illogical practice that is tearing apart communities in California.”
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Supporters had presented some 40,000 signatures to Governor Newsom asking him to intervene on Ton’s behalf.
Among those supporters of Ton is comedian W Kamau Bell.
“He is a legal immigrant who served his time and is strengthening his community,” Bell wrote in a tweet.
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