Wrongfully Convicted and Now Deported, Too?

The cases of Julio Maldonado and Denis Calderon are getting some attention in Philadelphia -- but Maldonado could still be deported in the coming weeks to Peru, a country he left 36 years ago when he was 3, if something doesn't give.

This case involves is a long, winding trail of injustice. Maldonado and Calderon were convicted of a 1996 aggravated assault in Philadelphia that they claim was not only self defense, but self defense in a racially motivated assault by a drunken gang. The evidence is strong that they were wrongfully convicted of this assault. They spent nearly three years in prison - but then their immigration nightmare began.

The men were both longtime lawful residents, but their conviction was grounds for deportation. They refused to sign a deportation order, and were sent to federal prison for hindering their own removal from the U.S.

More than 900 people have signed a change.org petition urging Pennsylvania Gov. Rendell to pardon the men. Join them here.

Dave Bennion, the former change.org immigration editor who now writes at Citizen Orange and elsewhere, has done an excellent job of keeping us in the loop on this case and keeping pressure on officials to act before they deport two men who very likely were only ensnared in the system because they were the victims of a hate crime.

Dave wrote a clear, thorough evaluation of the case here, and recently posted an update recently at New America Media. The family's website for Denis and Julio is here.

Please take action on this case today. These men have served their time, and sending them back to a country they hardly know won't help anyone.

I will post updates on the case as I get them.

Photo above: Julio and his mom.