PRESS ADVISORY: For Tuesday, Sept. 15, 12:00PM

PRESS CONTACTS: Marie Vincent, Attorney at Pangea Legal Services, (415) 635-7187; Niloufar Khonsari, Attorney at Pangea Legal Services, (415) 254-0475.  (family of the detainee will be present for interviews).

What: In response to the prolonged detention of Ernesto Reynoso Cardenas (A029-637-211)we will gather and call on ICE to release Ernesto from detention and reunite him with his family! Ernesto is the sole breadwinner in his family and has been detained for over 3 months. Because Ernesto was tortured in Mexico, he is eligible to apply for withholding of removal. He should have an opportunity to pursue his immigration case outside of detention. On September 15, our community will gather around the suffering family to call for an end to the separation of families by our broken immigration system. Speakers will explain why Ernesto is a classic example of ICE’s unreasonable detention policy and enforcement priorities.

When: Tuesday, September 15, 2015 at 12:00PM

Where: SF ICE, 630 Sansome St, San Francisco, CA

Who: Family and friends of Ernesto, UC Berkeley colleagues and students, Interfaith Coalition for Immigrant Rights, and Pangea Legal Services

Background: Ernesto Reynoso Cardenas is from Mexico and has resided in California ever since coming here in 2008. He and his family fled torture and politically motivated persecution in Mexico and came to the United States for safety and a better life.  Ernesto is eligible for withholding of removal. He received a positive determination after his reasonable fear interview with an asylum officer. However, ICE has refused to release him because they consider him a high priority for deportation. For further information, please visit: https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/help-reunite-ernesto-with-his-family

Ernesto’s ICE Officer is Officer Degnim. He may be reached at (415) 844-5575.