Change.org - ICE attacks domestic violence survivor

Content Warning: The following contains reference to domestic violence. Marisela Andrade got married at just 18 years old. But that day, the man she married changed. He began to abuse her—trafficking Marisela to the US and beating her constantly. She survived his abuse for 13 years until finally, in self defense, she was forced to kill him out of fear for her life. Marisela was sentenced to life in prison as a result. Now, after finally gaining parole, ICE wants to deport her on Thanksgiving. Marisela’s life is here now. Sign her petition to demand Gavin Newsom pardon her and allow her to stay.  Pardon for Marisela Andrade (WA7304) 1,335 have signed California Coalition for Women Prisoners (CCWP)’s petition. Let’s get to 1,500!

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To: Governor Gavin Newsom ATTN: Office of Legal Affairs, Pardons State Capitol, Suite 1173 Sacramento, CA   95814 We are asking you to prevent the ICE detention and potential deportation of Ms. Marisela Andrade (WA7304). Marisela was incarcerated at CCWF in Chowchilla, CA in 2008 on a Life Without Parole (LWOP) sentence. She received a commutation of her LWOP sentence in 2018  to 15 to life by then Governor Brown. She was approved for parole on March 5, 2021 and now is scheduled for release on Nov. 26, 2021.  Marisela Andrade is a 44 year old immigrant and survivor of domestic violence. On  her first day of freedom, she will likely be picked up by ICE, taken to a detention center and then deported unless Governor Newsom intervenes. Marisela has worked hard to earn first a commutation and now her parole. She should NOT be doubly punished by being handed over to ICE. She has served her time and deserves the right to come home to her family and community here in California.  At 15 Marisela fell in love with a man who seemed to offer the safety of love. They married when Marisela turned 18.  As Marisela wrote, “The day of my wedding the domestic violence began. I asked him why things changed, and he said because I was already his wife. He drank a lot of alcohol, and the only thing I could do was obey him and please him in all ways because I was so afraid of him. I had already lost a baby because he had beaten me so terribly, but I never reported him to the police because he always threatened to take my daughters from me.” Not long after their wedding, her husband brought Marisela across the border to the US where the abuse and trafficking continued. “I was very ignorant, so I stayed silent without sharing anything about what was going on and enduring all the violence and abuse until 2008 when the crime happened.” Feeling she had no way out of the repeated physical abuse and rape, in an act of self-defense Marisela killed her abuser. Marisela dedicated her years in prison to rehabilitation and to healing herself and other survivors  from trauma.  She is deeply  remorseful for having taken another person’s life and for the fact that her children grew up without a father. She wrote, “I felt trapped, desperate, good for nothing. I felt there was no way out…..Back then I didn’t know how to deal with my emotions or problems with my husband...I am very sorry for all the damage that I caused. Now I want to help other people so that they might know that the help is out there for them and that they don’t have to commit a crime to get it. Today I know this. I don’t have to be afraid and if I need any kind of help I have numbers to call. I have my support today, I value human life and every day I work to be a better person." When freed, Marisela intends to continue her work to support survivors of abuse.  We urge you, Gov. Newsom, to recognize Ms. Andrade’s importance to her family and community and to stop the double punishment by ICE. Pardon Ms. Andrade. Allow her to come home to her family.

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