Top 10 of 2017: #5 – Community Support for a New Britain Resident Targeted by Anti-Immigrant Agenda

Many important stories have been covered by the New Britain Progressive in 2017. It may be difficult to name only a few articles as the top stories of the year, but there are a few the New Britain Progressive would like to share as our Top Ten.  Other Top Ten stories can be found at “Top Ten Stories of 2017.”

A New Britain family got some good news in December, 2017, that a father of three would not be facing imminent deportation only days before Christmas. That news followed a strong outpouring of community support for the longtime New Britain resident, Mariano Cardoso, (“Rallying to Support a New Britain Resident Targeted by Anti-Immigrant Agenda“). U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and New Britain’s Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty (CT-5) put their support behind the effort to win a stay to prevent Cardoso’s immediate deportation and for allowing him to pursue permanent resident status (“Esty and Blumenthal Seek to Stop Deportation of New Britain’s Mariano Cardoso“). Cardoso was granted that stay on the very day on which he was facing deportation (“Mariano Cardoso Celebrates Stay Granted on Deportation Order“).

People coming together in support of a longtime member of the New Britain community and his family made this the #5 story on the New Britain Progressive’s Top 10 of 2017.

Rallying to Support a New Britain Resident Targeted by Anti-Immigrant Agenda

November 18, 2017

A candlelight vigil was held at the home of longtime New Britain resident Mariano Cardoso, Sr., who is facing deportation in a time when the national government is in the grip of Republican President Donald Trump’s anti-immigrant politics.

The vigil, on the evening of November 17th, followed a rally held in Hartford in the morning to protest actions being taken against Cardoso, leading down a path toward his deportation after nearly three decades in the United States.

New Britain Democratic Chair, Bill Shortell, called on Democratic activists to support Cardoso. “Mariano Cardoso has lived in the United States for 28 years and in New Britain for 17 years. He has a wife and three children, two of whom are in college. Although he is hard working and a pillar of his community, Mariano must report to ICE tomorrow, Friday morning with a one-way plane ticket to Mexico.”

“ICE has been breaking up families,” Shortell added. “Please join a protest of this deportation.”

Organizers of the rally said its goal was to, “unify against a broken and cruel system of attacks against immigrants of all kinds. Join the peaceful protest against the deportation of Mariano Cardoso Sr. and show that Mariano’s family has your support!”

“There is no justice in deporting this father, just cruelty against a family,” organizers said, adding that the candlelight vigil was held to, “bring to light the injustice of ICE using deportations to tear families and communities apart.”

The group “We Are Mariano”, is urging people to get involved in supporting the Cardoso family. The group has Facebook page @WeAreMariano.

Esty and Blumenthal Seek to Stop Deportation of New Britain’s Mariano Cardoso

December 15, 2017

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.”

Mariano Cardoso Celebrates Stay Granted on Deportation Order

December 15, 2017

New Britain resident, Mariano Cardoso, facing an imminent deportation order, celebrated with his family and U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal that a last-minute stay had been granted, relieving him of the immediate threat of deportation.

A gentle snowfall provided a light backdrop to an emotional gathering at the Cardoso home in New Britain. Heartfelt embraces told the story of the sense of relief that the family would not have to face the immediate deportation order of the father of three, just days before Christmas.

Cardoso has been facing deportation in a time when the national government is in the grip of Republican President Donald Trump’s anti-immigrant politics. The deportation order was for December 15, 2017. That very day, a stay of the deportation order was granted. The decision prevents the immediate deportation, though Cardoso still faces a challenging legal path ahead, to achieve permanent resident status and end the threat of deportation.

Senator Blumenthal (D-CT) and U.S. Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty (CT-5) sent letters to 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. Those Congressional efforts were credited at the celebration as important for having won the last minute relief from deportation.

As Blumenthal and Esty had argued on Cardoso’s behalf, he, “has two U.S. citizen children and a son who is a DACA recipient. He provides financial and other support for his family members.” They pointed out that, “Mr. Cardoso has been in the U.S. since 1990, gainfully employed as a business owner which provides employment to several others,” and that, “He is also the primary caregiver for both his mother and father.”

“Additionally,” the Senator and Congresswoman wrote, “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.”

Mariano Cardoso. Sr. has lived in the United States for twenty-seven years, building a life and raising his family. In organizing a November 17th rally and vigil against Cardoso’s deportation, organizers said that, “There is no justice in deporting this father, just cruelty against a family,” adding that the candlelight vigil was held to, “bring to light the injustice of ICE using deportations to tear families and communities apart.” They added that their goal is to, “unify against a broken and cruel system of attacks against immigrants of all kinds.”

While Cardoso still faces challenges ahead, the stay of the immediate threat of deportation provided great relief for a New Britain family.

Additional related stories:

Trump Attack on Immigrants Sparks Resistance in New Britain, February 1, 2017.

Rallying in Support of Immigrant Communities, February 3, 2017.

Students Organize for Immigrant Rights and Rally Sept 14th, September 13, 2017.