Release Rot: Demand that the Immigration Judge Grants Rot's Bond!

Rot is a Laotian-Cambodian refugee who escaped from the Cambodian genocide as a child. His family resettled in Long Beach, CA and most of his family still currently resides there. Growing up during the resettlement period, his family encountered cultural, financial, and emotional challenges adjusting to the new country. As a result, his home life was turbulent. Rot sought acceptance and belonging through his friends. His friend group became his chosen family and his gang. At sixteen years old, Rot and his friends were trying to fix their car. Confronted by another man from the neighborhood, the man told his group to leave immediately. The situation escalated as Rot felt challenged and threatened by this. He retrieved his gun and decided to shoot the man. As a seventeen year old, Rot was tried as an adult and was charged with a felony conviction. At the time, Rot only knew how to respond to situations with violence and aggression.

Ultimately, Rot accepted his responsibility. He served 29 years in prison and has spent all of his adult life incarcerated. His partner at the time was pregnant with their daughter, Ashley. He dedicated himself to self-help programs to turn his life around, in hopes of reuniting with his family upon his release from prison. He participated in AA Alcohol Anonymous, anger management, substance abuse prevention, Buddhist meditation groups, alternative violence program (AVP), criminal and gang Anonymous (CGA), center for counsel, PACA - Prisoners Against Child Abuse, New Life Canine Dog Program and so much more. All of these programs helped him address factors that led to his incarceration.

As a reflection of his growth, Rot was granted parole by the CA State Parole Board in February 2020. However, instead of coming home to his family on his release date, he was immediately transferred to an immigrant prison at the Adelanto detention center. This was all due to the conviction he committed at 16 years old.

With Rot’s medical history and conditions, he is at high risk of contracting COVID-19. Rot is a cancer survivor, who is living with chronic respiratory conditions and Hepatitis B. ICE facilities are incapable of practicing social distancing and providing the medical attention that Rot needs and deserves as a human being.

His family and community are ready to support his parole now, by providing him COVID testing, housing, and transitional support. Rot is a father, grandfather, mentor, advocate, and active community member. As a father and grandfather, Rot strives to lead the younger generation in a different path that he was once in.

As a community, we are urging the immigration judge to grant his bond release so that Rot is immediately released back to his family and community. Currently, he is at risk of being deported to Cambodia, a country he has not returned back to since he fled as a child. By deporting Rot, he would be left in an isolated country, where he does not speak the language, nor have access to the transitional resources, medical resources, and community support.

He deserves a chance to be reunited with his daughter Ashley and his three grandchildren. Join the Sanctuary Long Beach Coalition in supporting Rot by signing and sharing the #ReleaseRot petition. Please see our Campaign Website for the social media toolkit.