Meet Tyrone. Spent 25 years in prison. Atoning for a murder at 19. Earned his BA & Masters. Helped youth understand impact of gun violence. Respected & loved. Granted parole earlier this year. Then ICE got him. Now in detention. Soon to be deported to a country he doesn't know.
A letter from Tyrone's daughter, Shayquana, asking for support for a pardon by @NYGovCuomo. "I need my father, my aging grandmother needs her son, my mother needs her husband, my uncle needs his brother, my cousins need their uncle, and my father needs us."campaigns.organizefor.org/petitions/if-y…
@NYGovCuomo "My father was brought to the U.S. lawfully as a child by my grandmother, who wanted a better life for her family. In 1997, when I was 3, my father went to prison. He was just 19 when he shot & tragically took the life of another young man."
@NYGovCuomo "In 2011, while my father was in prison, my brother (my father’s youngest son) was killed in an act of violence (at 17), deepening my father’s understanding of the traumatic impact he had on his victim’s family and gun violence has on our community, more generally."
@NYGovCuomo "My father spent 25 yrs atoning for harm he caused. After much soul searching, he committed to bettering himself (earned BA & Master’s degrees) & helping others. He helped atrisk youth understand the impact of gun violence & develop strategies for nonviolent conflict resolution."
@NYGovCuomo "My father educated his peers about HIV/AIDS & making healthy lifestyle decisions. He led his prison’s United Asian American Organization as President when no one else stepped up to ensure its representation."
@NYGovCuomo "For all his work my father earned respect of peers, advocates, clergy, academics, correctional officials, legislators, & earlier this year, the state parole board, which granted him parole. However, my father was not freed on his release date, but transferred to ICE custody."
@NYGovCuomo "My father is set for deportation to a country he has not seen since he was just 11 years old and where he has no family left. Time is running out; my father’s deportation is imminent as he sits in an ICE detention center."
@NYGovCuomo "My father served his time, every day of his sentence; & so did our entire family. I need my father, my aging grandmother needs her son, my mother needs her husband, my uncle needs his brother, my cousins need their uncle, and my father needs us."
@NYGovCuomo "Keeping my father away from our family and sending him to a land he does not know and where he has no support system is cruel and defies logic."
@NYGovCuomo "Moreover, deporting my father would be a terrible loss for our community. New York taxpayers invested tremendous resources in my father’s transformation, & w/ help of dedicated professionals, he succeeded remarkably."
@NYGovCuomo "My father will continue his community work as a credible messenger after his incarceration. But without your (@NYGovCuomo) pardon, we will all lose what we stand to benefit from my father’s return."
@NYGovCuomo "The precious life of my father’s victim can never be replaced. As someone who lost her own brother in much the same way, I understand. But I am so proud of the man my father has become. He has taught me the importance of humility, hard work, and community service."
@NYGovCuomo "Please help my father continue to live and work here in the U.S. If you give him this opportunity, I know he can help heal our broken world.
Sincerely, Shayquana (daughter of Tyrone Abraham)"campaigns.organizefor.org/petitions/if-y…
Sincerely, Shayquana (daughter of Tyrone Abraham)"campaigns.organizefor.org/petitions/if-y…
@NYGovCuomo My friend & defender colleague, @1BaharAnsari, shared Tyrone Abraham's story with me. She teaches a law school clinic that represents him. Her and her students filed a pardon application on his behalf. His deportation is IMMINENT. Please sign the petition. Please help Tyrone.
