In recent years, there has been heightened focus on tightening restrictions for both undocumented and legal immigrants, greatly impacting refugees granted permanent resident status who have served time for offenses committed years ago. Due to missteps in their youth, immigrants now face deportation to countries that few remember calling home.

Seattle Clemency Project partners with the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project and Khmer Anti-Deportation Advocacy Group to obtain the legal assistance they need to stay in their community and keep their families intact.

Sophy was born in a refugee camp in Thailand after his family fled the Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia in 1980. They legally immigrated to America and thought they were automatically citizens, not realizing they had to file paperwork to actually become citizens. As a child, like many Cambodians, he faced discrimination and exclusion from the community. When he was 16, he was involved in a scuffle with some neighbors that had been harassing him. Because firearms were involved, he served four years as part of a plea bargain. While locked up, he not only lost his father to a heart attack , but learned for the first time that he was not actually a citizen and could face deportation. After he served his time, he turned his life around, married, had children, and has been a productive member of society ever since. Even so, he was still facing deportation like his brother.

Through exceptional representation by Joanne Kalas of Foster Pepper PLLC and those at the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, Sophy’s criminal conviction was successfully pardoned, and his lawful permanent resident status was restored. Saved from the imminent threat of deportation, Sophy was able to maintain his life with his family and stay in the only country he has ever known.

Saray

Learn about Saray’s journey through the legal system as she fought to stay in this country with her children. With the help of Seattle Clemency Project and others, she was able to clear her name finally and begin a new life.