Tell Gov. Schwarzenegger to Pardon Eddy Zheng

Letter of Support to Pardon Eddy Zheng (Xiao Fei Zheng)

Greetings,

As a concerned citizen and a staunch supporter of the youth in our community, I am writing to strongly urge your timely pardon for Mr. Eddy Zheng, an Oakland community resident and leader who has committed his life’s work to youth violence prevention – including mentoring youth while in prison and now mediating conflicts between high need and at-risk youth in the Bay Area. Eddy is at immediate risk for deportation to China, a country where he has not been since 1982 and where he has no family or community support. For many reasons, his deportation will have a huge impact on the San Francisco Bay Area community, and especially in the Asian American community where in the three years since he has been out of prison, he has built a reputation as a one who deeply and genuinely cares about the youth and the future of the next generation.

When he was only 16 years old, Eddy was sent to prison. As a result of language barriers and a lack of understanding about his rights and the criminal justice system, he served over 20 years before being released in February 2007. While in prison, Eddy was a leader for prisoner rehabilitation, worked with at-risk youth, and published writings about his personal transformation. After his release, Eddy immediately jumped into leading youth empowerment projects and gang mediations through his job at Community Youth Center in San Francisco. In addition to his full-time job, Eddy has also made time to conduct over 100 anti-violence presentations, workshops, and speeches at public schools and community events since his release in 2007. He has also garnered a number of awards from various community groups and agencies.

To prevent his deportation, Eddy and his supporters are seeking the support and willingness of a Governor's Pardon, which may stop Immigration Custom Enforcement (ICE)’s efforts to deport Eddy and allow him to continue his mission to protect, nurture and motivate our community’s most valuable asset – our youth.

Eddy’s extraordinary personal transformation makes him an invaluable mentor. His ability to connect with at risk youth at their level and share his experiences and knowledge have inspired and motivated many to want to make positive changes in their lives. The contributions he has made and his message to the youth has earmarked him as a highly effective grassroots community leader who will leave a lasting legacy in the community. For these, and many more reasons, Eddy is an ideal candidate for a Governor's Pardon that will grant him permanent residence in the U.S. As an immigrant to the U.S. when he was only 12-years old, Eddy has spent more than half of his life in the United States and identifies as being a Chinese American. After more than two decades behind bars, Eddy’s future is here in the U.S., in the San Francisco Bay Area, and in Oakland with his family and friends, where he can continue to guide underserved youth to make positive decision in their lives and become productive citizens in our community and our country.

Thank you for considering this request. I look forward to celebrating Eddy’s permanent residency with you in the near future.

[Your name]