Dallas, Texas … The Reverend Peter Johnson of Dallas, Texas will be in Portland, Oregon starting Sunday, October 28, 2012 to lobby for the immediate release of EDSON Barrera from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention. Reverend Johnson is perhaps the best known Civil Rights Activist in Dallas, Texas having been sent to Dallas by the late Dr. Martin Luther King. Reverend Johnson was the youngest member of the original staff put together by Dr. King known as the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. Reverend Johnson is one of the only Civil Rights Activist that works directly to promote immigration reform and proper treatment of foreign nationals in this country. “Dr. King would have never permitted the government to get away with the abuses I hear about”, Johnson is quoted as saying. Reverend Johnson was recruited by Ralph Isenberg, Founder, of the Isenberg Center for Immigration Empowerment (ICIE) to assist him in helping foreign nationals who have severe immigration problems that involve Constitutional law and extreme family separation. ICIE has a staff of nine, including an on staff attorney, currently handling over 45 matters involving over 250 foreign nationals and citizens. ICIE is a privately funded initiate and all services provided by ICIE are free to those in need.
The case of EDSON came to the attention of ICIE in early October of 2012. ICIE has been struggling to keep EDSON from being deported to Mexico while it sought to learn the details of his case. EDSON came to the United States when he was six years old and settled with his parents in the Portland, Oregon area. EDSON and his family entered the United States without a visa. He graduated high school and was attending college when he was arrested for theft at his work place in Clackamas County. EDSON plead guilty to first degree theft and received misdemeanor sentencing by Judge Thomas J. Rastetter. The Judge sentenced EDSON to ten days in jail (time served), restitution, court costs, attendance of anti-theft class, 24 months supervised probation and misdemeanor treatment upon completion of probation.
Ralph Isenberg is on record as saying “the sentence imposed upon EDSON by the Judge was fair given the circumstances of the case and the fact that EDSON was a first time youthful offender. What clearly was unfair was the position of ICE that EDSON was a felon in that it is abundantly clear that EDSON was given a minimal sentence with an opportunity to have his wrong doing treated as a misdemeanor if he behaved himself and paid his debt to society”. EDSON was nineteen years old when the offense took place and has been locked up for over a year at the ICE detention facility in Tacoma, Washington. “I can state with near certainty that no one connected with the case in Oregon, with the exception of ICE, intended for EDSON to be detained like this nor is his detention consistent with current policy coming out of Washington, D.C. “, Isenberg point out.
Since becoming involved ICIE has helped EDSON file a motion before Judge Rastetter that would immediately grant EDSON misdemeanor treatment because the family made certain that both restitution and court costs were recently paid. ICIE contacted the former employer of EDSON who put in writing their agreement to misdemeanor treatment upon payment of restitution. The immigration clinic out of Dallas, Texas has been in constant contact with ICE in the State of Washington as well as the Clackamas County District Attorney and Probation Department. Isenberg noted that “everyone in Oregon has been great to deal with”. Isenberg feels ICE is trying to be understanding of the situation but it will take a senior manager with ICE to get EDSON relief. “I know for certain that a senior ICE manager is reviewing the matter and I have sent several highly personal communications to that person explaining the situation”, Isenberg went on to say.
On a personal note Isenberg relates how he and his staff work with Edson and his family. “Each day I talk to EDSON at least twice going over his situation and giving him assignments to complete that assist us in advocating for his release. I try and give EDSON at least an hour of my time a day so he knows he is not alone and someone is actively working to get him released”, Isenberg said. In addition to Isenberg a Spanish speaking member of the ICIE staff talks to the family at least once a day to make sure they are informed and calm as ICIE goes about getting relief for EDSON.
For More Information Contact Ralph Isenberg at hamtx44@aol.com or call 214 707 5678.
