Saving Eddy Zheng From Deportation

[DaveyD]

Eddy Zheng: To Be Deported for Not Being An American Citizen

http://www.blogger.com/profile/4208258


I met Eddy Zheng in San Quentin Prison a few years ago. My friend Gary Chandler, along with other Poetry for the People alums, became creative writing instructors in the prison and invited me to attend and participate in a poetry reading. To date, it is the most memorable literary event I have ever attended, and not just because of its clever name: "The First Annual San Quentin Slam Slam."

When I first entered the prison's reading room, Eddy was draped in blue like all the other inmates. The prisoners -- most of whom were older people of color -- were friendly, craving to hear new poetry, and excited to meet new people. But Eddy stood out. From the minute I noticed him, he had a warm spirit, a ferocious passion, and an addictive generosity that filled the room. His poem blew me away. After the reading, we talked for quite a bit, until "curfew," at which point I was forced to leave. With each word he uttered, I questioned why Eddy wasn't on the "outside" or one of the "free people," both of which are terms I hadn't ever heard used to categorize attendees at a poetry reading.

Eddy was sentenced to seven years to life for a crime that he allegedly committed when he was a mere 16 years old. Today, at 35 years old, he has served the majority of his life in prison. But he has been steadfastly productive, working to rehabilitate himself in ways that would make any Republican congressman proud. During his sentence, he got a GED, an AA, studied religions, worked with at-risk youth, inspired inmates to pursue a creative writing program, joined a choir, and even wrote for the UC Berkeley Asian American publication Hardboiled. (You can read the prison's unconscionable reaction to his publication and his pursuit of an Ethnic Studies program within the jail here.)

Eddy eventually earned the support of the guards, his prison counselors, college professors, clergy, the prosecuting attorneys in his case (!!), and nearly everyone he met. (I'm a bit jealous that Eddy seems to have more friends than I do, and I don't have the excuse of being incarcerated.)

He was also recommended for parole a few years ago, but Governor Gray Davis rejected the recommendation, in keeping with his "tough on crime" stance.

Needless to say, Eddy, for me, has come to represent everything that is wrong with our country's criminal justice system.

Lately, I've reflected on how much Eddy and I have in common. We both had severe lapses of judgment when we were teenagers. Our parents are both immigrants. We both write poetry. We're deeply committed to learning about other cultures and pursuing lives dedicated to social justice.

There are two main differences between us, however: (1) Eddy was convicted for his juvenile indiscretions, while I was never caught. (2) Eddy's parents moved to America after he was born, whereas my parents moved to America before I was born.


Eddy's Parents

Those two differences -- Eddy's criminal conviction and his lack of American citizenship -- have led to two wildly different paths, with me teaching poetry at UC Berkeley and Eddy facing deportation after serving a 19-year sentence.

Thankfully, a few weeks ago, Governor Schwarzenegger finally approved Eddy for parole. He has now officially served and completed his sentence for all of his crimes.

But he hasn't been released from government custody and may never be a "free" man. Why? Because Eddy Zheng is not a US Citizen and, therefore, will likely be deported as required under xenophobic immigration laws passed in 1996.

Under current federal rules, any noncitizen -- even if he/she has a valid green card -- is subject to deportation if convicted of crimes as minor as DUI and shoplifting. These laws apply retroactively, meaning that Eddy had no way of knowing that he would face deportation at the time he pled guilty to the crimes. 9/11 has only made matters worse with even more hyper-draconian laws that conflate immigrants with terrorism.

Needless to say, Eddy is being punished twice. The first time, he served a 19-year-sentence for his juvenile crimes. But now, he's facing a second punishment -- this time, for simply not being an American citizen.

Eddy deserves to stay in this country. His family is here. His loved ones are here. The life he knows is here. He has several people, including myself, who are willing to hire him for employment. In my eyes, he represents the best this country has to offer.

Tomorrow morning, March 21, 2005, Eddy will face his first hearing in his deportation proceedings in San Francisco. It's largely procedural, but a packed crowd will make a huge difference because this is an issue in which community pressure will have a huge impact. Given the way the law is structured, a judge will need to be seriously persuaded before taking the risk of having him stay in the United States.

Otherwise, Eddy will be sent to China without any possibility of returning to the United States.

If you want to join me and show your support, Eddy's first hearing is tomorrow, Wednesday, March 21, at 9 am in San Francisco. It will be at 630 Sansome in Downtown SF on the 4th Floor. Print this hearing notice and bring it with you. Eddy will be listed on the docket under his Chinese name, Zheng Xiao Fei. His alien registration # is A38-049-471.

There will certainly be future hearings and I'll try to post more info here.

If you'd like more background on Eddy's story, click here.

You can also read his blog here.

Eddy's current mailing address is:


Zheng Xiao Fei Eddy, #111194
Yuba County Jail
PO Box 1031
Marysville, CA 95901

 

[tollytee]

Before anyone makes any judgements about this post, I would suggest they google this criminal and learn the truth. The post is nothing but a whitewash of facts and circumstances.

He is in this country illegally, he does not deny that he committed the felonies for which he was convicted. And to claim he did not know that he was subject to deportation after the completion of his lockup is downright ludicrous. Judges and lawyers would have explained this to him during plea bargain, if that was the case, or during pre-sentencing processes if a trial and conviction were had. It is established law and procedure that most 'life' sentence parolees who are not in the country legally at the time of their conviction will be deported upon release.

It is interesting to note that I have yet been able to find out what felonies he was convicted of, or the circumstances of how he arrived here or of his arrest. They are suspicously never mentioned in any sites I have read about him.

It is also interesting to note that Zheng wrote a statement to the liberal, socialist media concerns decrying American jurisprudence and prison policy. In the release, entitled, 'Facade of Prison Education', he compares it to Nazi Germany, and claims, 'The administation is running the education program like a facist indoctrination camp where no criticism of the ruling elite is tolerated'. He further states,' The administration continues to stomp on the First Amendment rights of volunteers and students'.

He concludes his remarks with, 'The facade of education is presented like a well orchestrated propapanda film which hides the reality of inmates with imprisoned bodies and shackled minds', and, 'I will continue to excercise and defend my rights of free speech and academic freedom'

I guess my question is who has 'indoctrinated' him to think he has any claims to any America rights. He has nothing whatsoever to do with this country except that he is here illegally, committed henious crimes while here illegally, and is being punished here, legally. I would also submit that he has been brainwashed by socialist do-gooders, who run rampant in our prison systems, to hate America and its institutions while he was taking advantage of a free education which, by the way, is not available to many lawbiding, American citizens.

I want to see this criminal deported. He has not earned the right to be in America or the right to take advantage of Ameican ideals and freedom.

Respectfully

Source: Asian Pacific Islander Legal Outreach published the article Mr. Zheng wrote.

 

[tollytee]

Addendum to my original post:

I have continued to research the background on this individual, however, I can not find much more information about his original crime except that it was a felony robbery. In Califorinia statutes at the time, 1987, it was not possible to receive a sentence wherein the maximum term is life unless the robbery conviction was especially serious. This would lead one to the conclusion that either a gun was used during the commission of the robbery, or that an innocent person was severely injured during the crime. In either case, this should be weighed strongly against his defense of deportation.

It is also interesting to note that during his deportation hearing, he could not summon more than 50 supporters outside the courthouse to protest the hearing. I am convinced that all the relevant facts surrounding this convict are being ignored or watered down so as to mislead the public. Mr. Zheng is referred to as a 'political prisoner' in all of the materials I have read about this subject. Go figure.

Respectfully

Additional Source: Asian American Bar Assoc.

 

[Borealis]

Here's my question: Why should we care? The man is a criminal, yes? He's not an American citizen, yes? So why exactly should he be given the right stay in a country whose laws he has flagrantly broken? Next time he should come up to Canada; he'd get royal treatment from our useless excuse for a government.

My sympathies for a convicted criminal are marginal at best.

 

[utdbear]

Bye Bye Eddie!!