Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Father of Three United States Citizen Children Detained while Children "Watched in Horror"

Mr. Shi Tong Chu is currently being held in the Buffalo Federal Detention Facility.  The following background information was taken from the on-line petition that has been created calling for his immediate release from custody.  I urge you to sign it.
On June 12, 2012, Mr. Chu was detained by ICE while on his way to make a delivery for the family restaurant he operates in Schenectady, New York. His three U.S. citizen children watched in horror from the restaurant windows as their father was taken into custody right before their eyes. They have not seen their father in four months.

Mr. Chu arrived in the United States 12 years ago. He fled China in 2000 after being harassed and threatened with imprisonment for practicing Falun Gong, a spiritual movement that the Chinese government has banned since 1999. 

For the past twelve years, Mr. Chu has been a peaceful resident of Sunset Park, Brooklyn. His life revolved around supporting his wife and three young children, who are all U.S. citizens. He relocated with his family to Schnectady, New York only recently to take care of his mother-in-law who has cancer. His 8-year-old son, Brian, is also ill and might need to undergo surgery soon. Brian asks everyday if his father will be there for his surgery. Since getting detained, his wife, Yuki, has been distraught and overwhelmed having to take care of her ill mother, three children and run a restaurant all by herself. 
Please take immediate action by signing the petition.  I also urge you to call ICE Director John Morton at 202-732-3000 or 202-732-3100 asking for Mr. Chu's release.

Here is a sample script for your call:
“I am calling to ask that you release Shi Tong Chu (A#078 104 926) from Buffalo Federal Detention Center. Chu fled China 12 years ago to escape being persecuted by the Chinese government for being a Falun Gong practitioner. Chu has 3 U.S. citizen children and is a low-priority deportation. He should have never been detained under the Morton Memo. Let Chu go!"

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