A Million Stories

[ a million stories ]

ICE, Baby

Before 200 activists blocked traffic on Broad Street this Monday to protest the recent deportation of local Cambodian refugees, they sat quietly at the Arch Street United Methodist Church, watching a makeshift play by a few Central High School students.

The story revolves around Jimmy, a refugee who is caught brawling on the street as a teenager. Police charge him with an aggravated felony, and he goes to jail. After Jimmy is released, however, he becomes a shining example of how ex-cons can turn their lives around. Years later, Jimmy, a permanent resident, applies for citizenship — and is denied. But that's the least of his troubles: Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials tell Jimmy he's now being deported, thanks to a 1996 law that made deportation mandatory for any immigrant who commits an aggravated felony.

" I see you are a reformed man, but because of this law, we cannot do anything," says the ICE official.

"Are you serious?" asks Jimmy. "Please don't take me away! My daughter, my son!"

"It's a law," says the ICE official. "Sorry."

It may seem unbelievable, but the skit is actually based on the lives of very real Cambodian refugees from Philly who face deportation because of crimes they committed years — even decades — ago, and who are now incarcerated at a York County detention facility.

And so, on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, activists marched to ICE's headquarters, at 16th and Callowhill streets, to demand the release of four local Cambodian refugees awaiting deportation. ICE workers were off for the holiday, so activists left a few parting gifts: hundreds of yellow ribbons tied to the outside fence.

Will ICE meet their demands — or meet with them at all? Privately, several group members were doubtful. But Monday's protest marked one victory. Having long felt their plight is largely ignored by mainstream media, the protesters were surprised — and delighted — to find the Inquirer and Daily News suddenly in tow.

"They here! They here!" shouted marchers. Indeed: The protest made the Inquirer 's Local News section front.

The Ed is Dead (Long Live the Ed)

This Tuesday marked the inauguration of Gov. Tom Corbett and the end of an era. A political giant's reign, Ed Rendell's eight years as governor, eight years as Philadelphia's mayor and another eight as the city's district attorney, left an indelible mark — for better or worse — on Philly and the commonwealth. To honor the man — and to bury him — City Paper held a contest early this week, asking readers to submit, via Twitter, their own summing-up of Rendell's long career in 140 characters or less (using the hashtag #edsdead). We chose the following "winners," based on creativity and pithiness, but really, you're all winners. Aw.

"And there goes the last soulful progressive ballsy foulmouthed fundraising Macy's Parade balloon gov that hired a lot of liberals!" — @HannahMiller215

"When he wasn't stuffing his mouth with food, he was removing his foot." — @iPhillyChitChat

"So many times I had to explain to outsiders, 'That's just Ed being Ed.' He didn't hold back, and Phila & PA are better as a result." — @adambonin

... And since this was so much damn fun, how's about a new contest to welcome (using "welcome" liberally) our new governor, Tom Corbett, in 140 or less. Hit us up @citypaper using the tag #hellotomcorbett.