New Britain’s Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty (CT-5) and U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) have sent two letters to urge a stay in the deportation of longtime New Britain resident Mariano Cardoso, who is facing the threat in a time when the national government is in the grip of Republican President Donald Trump’s anti-immigrant politics.
In the letters, sent December 14, 2017, Esty and Blumenthal ask Thomas Homan, the Acting Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the the Board of Immigration Appeals, to reconsider his case and allow a stay of deportation. Cardoso is scheduled to be deported on Friday, December 15th.
“Mr. Cardoso has been in the U.S. since 1990, gainfully employed as a business owner which provides employment to several others,” Esty and Blumenthal wrote, adding “Mr. Cardoso has two U.S. citizen children and a son who is a DACA recipient. He provides financial and other support for his family members.” A New Britain resident, Cardoso has lived in the United States twenty-seven years.
“He is also the primary caregiver for both his mother and father.” Esty and Blumenthal wrote, “Additionally, we were informed that Mr. Cardoso’s father will undergo surgery which will place further responsibility on Mr. Cardoso to provide the needed care for his father.”
A candlelight vigil was held in New Britain on November 17th to protest the deportation of Cardoso and to show community support for he and his family. On December 13th, another rally was held in Hartford to protest his impending deportation. The group “We Are Mariano”, is urging people to get involved in supporting the Cardoso family. The group has a Facebook page @WeAreMariano.
Esty and Blumenthal told Homan that, “we ask that ICE give Mr. Cardoso’s request for a Stay of Removal full and fair consideration. He should be granted every consideration possible to remain in the United States and allowed to continue to pursue his pathway to legal status.”
