I am writing this petition on behalf of my uncle, Vithea Yung, who is currently facing deportation to Cambodia regardless of his disabilities and incapability to take care of himself. 
    Vithea Yung is a 42- year- old incarcerated quadriplegic Cambodian refugee. On November 12, 2021, he was granted parole by BHP but the California Departments of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) still plans to hand him over to ICE to be deported. As someone who is new to this type of disability, he must learn to live with it and he is not getting the proper care where he is at and will not be getting it if he is deported. 
    He has served over 25 years in prison and during his time, He took the steps necessary to become a better man and prepared himself for his release. While incarcerated, he completed his GED in 2016 just after he became permanently paralyzed from the neck down. He also joined support groups, self-help classes and health programs to keep himself busy, educated and out of trouble. Vithea worked various jobs within the institution such as a teacher's aide, education clerk, and a recreation aide. He often got good feedback from the staff. He also attended and graduated from a Restorative Justice programs such as Victim-Offender Education Group (VOEG) and Victim Awareness. Some of the support groups he attended during his sentence are Gang members Anonymous, Anger management, stress management and conflict resolutions. 
    Vithea was born in 1979 in Cambodia. Vithea was 1 year old when the Cambodian Genocide began. He stayed with his mother and 2 younger siblings while their father was ripped away from their family because he was a teacher and musician. The Khmer Regime did not believe educators or the talented were good for their country and considered them a threat to what they were trying to accomplish. At the age of 4, Vithea along his mother and two siblings were granted sponsorship to live in the U.S. The only home he knows is the U.S. Deporting him back to Cambodia would not only be a traumatic memory but will be very difficult to take care of himself due to his condition. He needs to unite with his family in order to get the proper care.
    We need to bring this to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s attention so he can withdraw the deportation and also pass the VISION ACT.  The VISION Act would protect community members who has been released or is eligible for release from a California state prison or local jail from being turned over to ICE custody.  If the VISION Act passed a year ago, Vithea or anyone in this position wouldn’t have to struggle with anxiety and live in fear of being forced to live in a country they have no knowledge or ties to. Deportation of any kind is inhumane and it ruins families every day.
   To show your support please sign this petition and share my uncle’s story across the media so we can reach Gov. Gavin Newsom to get this law passed so my family and many others don’t continue to lose family members due to ICE.
#FreeVithea #StopICETransfer #VISIONAct #HomeNotHeartBreak