To Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security, John Morton; and Secretary of Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano:

I am writing to call for the immediate release of Mr. Shi Tong Chu (#A078104926) from Buffalo Federal Detention Facility in New York and urge that you take immediate action to stop his deportation.

On June 12, 2012, Mr. Chu was detained by ICE while on his way to make a delivery for the family restaurant he operates in Schenectady, New York. His three U.S. citizen children watched in horror from the restaurant windows as their father was taken into custody right before their eyes. They have not seen their father in four months.

Mr. Chu arrived in the United States 12 years ago. He fled China in 2000 after being harassed and threatened with imprisonment for practicing Falun Gong, a spiritual movement that the Chinese government has banned since 1999.

For the past twelve years, Mr. Chu has been a peaceful resident of Sunset Park, Brooklyn. His life revolved around supporting his wife and three young children, who are all U.S. citizens. He relocated with his family to Schnectady, New York only recently to take care of his mother-in-law who has cancer. His 8-year-old son, Brian, is also ill and might need to undergo surgery soon. Brian asks everyday if his father will be there for his surgery. Since getting detained, his wife, Yuki, has been distraught and overwhelmed having to take care of her ill mother, three children and run a restaurant all by herself.

According to the memo issued by John Morton, Shi Tong Chu is a low-priority case and should be granted prosecutorial discretion. Mr Chu faces persecution and incarceration if he is deported to China. Please help keep Mr. Chu in the country that he considers home so that he can remain safe with his family.

I urge you to release Mr. Shi Tong Chu from Buffalo Federal Detention Facility and call on ICE to stop his deportation.