My name is Carlos Adrian Vazquez and I'm 25 years old. I was born in Mexico but brought to this country at the age of 3. I lived in and around of Los Angeles most of my childhood. Both my parents are undocumented immigrants who wanted a better future for my siblings and I. They worked 12 or 13 hours shifts for many years. That left me to feel unwanted or unlovable, but honestly I was just too young to understand what sacrifices were.

I went out into the streets to look for what I couldn't find at home. I found what I thought I was looking for in the worst of places. I joined a gang and dropped out of school. At the age of 16 I was arrested and charged with murder and gang enhancement. In 2013 I was direct filed into adult court. So as a kid facing a possible 35 years-to-life I became a problematic adolescent.

I would go on to meet some very influential mentors. Despite always fighting these mentors seen something in me. They continued to pour knowledge and support when everyone around me had already counted me out. Little by little my perspective on life began to change. 

I found an art in writing so I began to write my story. I titled my book "The Rise of A Phoenix". It was an outlet at first but then I started digging deeper and found patterns in our cultura. From things like generational trauma to the crab-in-the-barrel effect. My book allowed me a glimpse into the potential I had when I put pen to paper.

In 2016 my mentors asked me to write a letter to Pope Francis. Can you believe that? A brown kid from Pico Union was going to write a letter to the Pope. I wrote him and actually received a letter in response. CNN end espanol came to interview me and it was all over the news. I couldn't believe I had accomplished something good in my life. Victory was short lived for a week later I was transferred from juvenile hall to prison. 

A month prior I was convicted of voluntary manslaughter and sentenced to 11 years. My mentors advocated on my behalf and I'm sure the letter from the Pope helped a bit. LOL. On the bus ride to prison I thought very hard about where my life was headed. It was one of the hardest decisions I had to make but I dropped out of my gang. I gave myself the opportunity to become someone in life. I'm sure the friends I lost due to gun violence and the street life would be proud of my decision but, I know those who are still actively involved in the gang life would never forgive me.

Prison was a wild journey in and of itself. The fights, the riots, the stabbings, going at it with correctional officers, and all that prison comes with. No kid should ever have to witness the trials and tribulations I had to overcome. Its inhumane. 

Fast forward to 2020 many criminal justice reform organizations advocated for laws to help those of us who wanted to change have an opportunity to earn their way home. They passed a bill named SB1437. Even though I was convicted of voluntary manslaughter I wasn't the one who actually committed the murder. SB 1437 opened the doors for those of us who didn't commit the actual murder to be resentenced to the underlying felony committed before the murder. I filed a petition to be resentenced but was denied because it only applied to those convicted of murder.

2 years later they passed SB 775. It was for those of us convicted of manslaughter. I filed a 2nd petition and this time it was granted. My manslaughter conviction was overturned and vacated. I was resentenced to 3 years for assault 245 (A) (4). I had already served 9 years so I got time served and ordered to be immediately released.

On Aug 16, 2022 I was released at 1 in the morning. After many years I reunited with my family and enjoyed the everyday freedoms. I had to sneak out of my moms house because she still lives in the old neighborhood (gang) I dropped out of. It was difficult trying to find employment due to my immigration status and record but after 2 months I landed a job. 3 months after my release I got accepted to a halfway house ran by the "Anti Recidivism Coalition". I was enrolling into East Los Angeles Community College. Slowly but surely I was rebuilding my life as a productive member of society.

I had the opportunity to travel to Utah, San Francisco, Big bear, and Santa Barbara. I finally got to see that there's a world out there more than just the neighborhood I grew up in. Everyday felt like a dream. Everything I had worked so hard for was beginning to show. 

On January 26, 2023 my parole officer asked me to check in at 8 am. So I showed up. She escorted me into a room. Inside the room I was immediately handcuffed and taken into custody by I.C.E (immigration officers). It is against department policy for my parole officer to work with I.C.E. Not only had she gone against department policy but managed to destroy in 1 day what had taken me 5 months to build. 

My family is devastated . I paid my dues to society, as a matter of fact I served almost 10 years on what was only supposed to be a 3 year sentence. I picked up the pieces of my life despite the traumatizing years I spent in prison as a kid. I was reminded at how fragile life is. I was reminded at how unfair life can be and how pain is a part of life no matter how far you try to run from it. As frustrating as it may be I refuse to give up. 

I can easily sign the papers to voluntarily be deported but I won’t go without a fight. I am asking for those of you reading to collect signatures to be granted a governors pardon. A governors pardon will wipe out my record clean, which means I.C.E. will no longer be able to use it against me. I am tired of being tired I’ve been fighting my whole life against odds that were purposefully stacked against me—So I ask can you help me with a fair shot at redemption?