War Veteran, Father and Humanitarian is Free, Support His Pardon and Prosecutorial Discretion
Clayton Richard Gordon came to the US at the age of 7 from Jamaica as a resident. He owns a home with his fiancée, and is a father of 2 U.S. citizens, including a 3-year old. In 1994 he joined the National Guard, and two years later began active duty in the U.S. army. Before he was detained, he was renovating a property as a volunteer that would serve as a transitional home for single mothers to transition from incarceration, which is on hold.
On June 20, 2013, Clayton was detained by immigration, due to a 5-year old guilty plea to possession with intent to sell, after cocaine was found in the home he shared with relatives. Clayton is now free, but he is still fighting deportation. Clayton had to file a lawsuit challenging indefinite detention in order to be released from ICE detention. Before his release, he spent 6 months in ICE detention and was placed in solitary confinement in retaliation for a hunger strike demanding better conditions.
In order to keep Clayton with his family, we are urging Immigration and Customs Enforcement to use prosecutorial discretion to close his case. We are also asking Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy and the CT congressional delegation to support a pardon for Clayton, which would help him make a stronger case for prosecutorial discretion.
To: Tina Guarna Armstrong, Director, ICE Boston Field Office;
To: Todd Thurlow, Public Advocate, ICE Boston Field Office;
I am writing in support of Mr. Clayton Richard Gordon (A# 037-749-187/ Inmate# 1304102) in his request for prosecutorial discretion. Mr. Clayton Richard Gordon served for seven years in the United States (US) Army before being honorably discharged, he came to the country when he was 7 years old and has lived here ever since. He is the father of two US citizens, a home owner, and a person who has made significant contributions to his community.
In 2008, Mr. Gordon was arrested after police found cocaine in the home he shared with relatives. He pleaded guilty to possession with intent to sell, and served three years of probation. But Mr. Gordon restarted his life. He and fiancée purchased their first home and had a son, now three years old. Mr. Gordon also ran his own contracting business, and was renovating a property to build a transitional home for single mothers coming out of incarceration. On June 20, 2013, he was detained by immigration agents near his home.
Mr. Gordon’s detention has harmed his family and community. It has deprived his children of an important caretaker and of the love and support that they need. I am asking that you consider exercising prosecutorial discretion to release Mr. Gordon from detention and close his deportation case.
To: Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy
To: Senator Chris Murphy and Senator Richard Blumenthal
To: Rep. John Larson, and the Connecticut Congressional Delegation
I am writing in support of Mr. Clayton Richard Gordon (A# 037-749-187) in his request for a state pardon.
Mr. Clayton Richard Gordon served for seven years in the United States (US) Army before being honorably discharged, he came to the country when he was 7 years old and has lived here ever since. He is the father of two US citizens, a home owner, and a person who has made significant contributions to his community.
In 2008, Mr. Gordon was arrested after police found cocaine in the home he shared with relatives. He pleaded guilty to possession with intent to sell, and served three years of probation. But Mr. Gordon restarted his life. He and fiancée purchased their first home and had a son, now three years old. Mr. Gordon also ran his own contracting business, and was renovating a property to build a transitional home for single mothers coming out of incarceration. On June 20, 2013, he was detained by immigration agents near his home.
I am asking that you do everything in your power to support Mr. Gordon’s petition for a pardon and the use of prosecutorial discretion by Immigration and Customs Enforcement to close his case.