Thomas Amanuel is a refugee from Eritrea who left his country when he was 1 year old with his mother. They left in the middle of a war of independence, and right before a military coup that deposed the emperor. They lived hidden or 3 years before coming to the US. He has now spent almost 4 years in immigration detention, while his elderly mother and his community fight for him to stay.

At 38 he is a valued worker in a small business in Portland, Oregon, where he has lived since he was 5.  He also volunteers in his community and helps his elderly neighbors and other immigrants from Eritrean community in the Portland area.

He is the main caretaker for his elderly mother, Elsa, who is a U.S. citizen. Because of his role in taking care of her, the organization Caring Accross Generations gathered over 3,000 signatures in support of stopping his deportation. 

If deported Thomas would be sent back to a country he does not know, and which has no record of him due to the political instability of and the changing regimes.

Had it not been for bad legal advice that his mother received when they first came to the country, Thomas could be a citizen like her. Now, a simple theft conviction has not allowed him to naturalize. The charge was the result of a plea bargain that Thomas agreed to, even though he had no appropriate legal representation and little understanding of his options.

This charge, and a DUI conviction from almost 10 years ago, are the factors ICE has relied on to detain and place Thomas in deportation proceedings.