Ask Governor Newsom to Pardon Mario Martinez

KEEP THIS VETERAN IN THE COUNTRY HE SERVED

Mario Martinez served six years in the U.S. military and earned an honorable discharge. But he's now at risk of being deported from the country he served, the place he's called home for over 50 years.

From the age of four, Mario was raised in California. He attended school, married, and raised his children here. It's where he works hard at his job as a building engineer and where spends time with his son and granddaughter, fixing up the house they purchased. Home is nowhere else but here.

One night in 2008, distraught after learning that his best friend had committed suicide, Mario got into an argument with his then girlfriend. He carelessly flung a bottle, which unintentionally struck her, leading to his arrest. The incident was uncharacteristic. His girlfriend pled with the district attorney to drop the charge and for leniency, writing "[t]he harshness of the charges and punishment does not apply to what happened. He is a decent man and to destroy his character in such a matter is incomprehensible." Her pleas went unheard and Mario was convicted of domestic violence. He accepts that what he did was wrong, and served his prison sentence.

Mario does not deserve to be punished for life for this one mistake. But without a gubernatorial pardon, that is what will happen — he will be deported and permanently separated from his family and his only home.

Urge Gov. Newsom to pardon Mario Martinez and keep this veteran in the U.S., with his family, where he belongs.

Message Recipients:
Governor Gavin Newsom

[The Form Label field is hidden on ACLU message action forms]
Your Message

Dear Governor Newsom:

Please pardon U.S. veteran Mario Martinez, so that he may be spared deportation and have a chance at becoming a citizen.

Mario came to the U.S. when he was four years old. He is a lawful permanent resident (aka green card holder). He served honorably in the U.S. Army for six years. For more than 50 years, virtually his entire life, California has been the only home he has known. It's where he was raised, where he raised his children and now spends time with his granddaughter. It's where he works hard as a building engineer, and on the weekends, where he puts in time fixing up the house he purchased with his son.

More than 10 years ago, distraught after learning that his best friend had committed suicide, Mario got into an argument with his girlfriend. He carelessly flung a bottle which struck her, leading to his arrest. His girlfriend pled with the district attorney to drop the charge and for leniency, writing "[t]he harshness of the charges and punishment does not apply to what happened. He is a decent man and to destroy his character in such a matter is incomprehensible." Her pleas went unheard -- Mario was convicted of domestic violence.

Mario does not deserve to be punished for life for this mistake. Even the presiding judge described Mario's conviction as a "tragedy." A gubernatorial pardon of his conviction would prevent his deportation and enable him to naturalize as a U.S. citizen. Mario served his country honorably and asks only to be allowed to remain in the place he calls home.

Sincerely,

[First Name] [Last Name]
[Your Address]

Recent participants