If you would like to make your donation for the relief fund for litigation expenses go to link right below:
You can donate by using your visa/mastercard or paypal or send your check to Free Kong Now, 871 Webster St., Marshfield, Ma 02050. Make checks payable to Free Kong Now. Our FID # 90-079-9403. Credit cards will charge us an approximate 4%.
Make your Donation here:
BENEFIT Follow Up: We raised an incredible $17, 112.00 in one night at the Free Kong Now Event. A special thank you to the many Marshfield and South Shore businesses who donated, gifts and services to the raffle, supporters who purchased tickets to the event, The Gratefuls of Scituate for providing the music, Barry Whitehouse for his MC talents, and especially the Free Kong Now Committee for making this event possible. An extra special thank you to Donny & Tori Fait, owners of Silent Chef, for preparing, catering and donating the food for the event. Please see "Donors" page for full list of donors.
What is the Free Kong Now Committee?
The Free Kong Now Committee is group of concerned citizens who are fighting for the STAY of Kong Xin Chen, a businessman and neighbor in our community. Kong was arrested by Immigration (ICE) on December 6, 2011 and sent from Massachusetts to a Deportation Center in Alabama. He was imprisoned for three months, at the tax payers expense. Kong is no criminal. It is the goal of this committe to Free Kong and see him get his green card and STAY with his wife and children; all US citizens in the USA!
Editorial
Kong has been living in the US for twenty years. He has a social security number, a valid Massachusetts Drivers License, pays Federal and State taxes, holds a licquor license, owns a restaurant. More importantly, Kong is married to a US citizen and has two US citizens for children. Kong has no criminal record. He donates to his community, volunteers in his community and hides from no one. His legal address has been filed with Massachusetts and the federal government for many years! He has gone to the same place of work everyday for seven years. So we ask why out of nowhere does ICE come in and pluck Kong from his life, family and community?
Kong is the example of the American dream. He works 7 days of week to provide for his young family. Kong loves his country, respects his country and CONTRIBUTES to his country. Kong is an AMERICAN by every definition. He did not have the good fortune of being born in the US. His family migrated here twenty years ago and they are all LEGAL! Kong, however, has outstanding deportation orders; an error of communication which led to a missed hearing ; an automatic deportation order, of which he knew nothing about for some time. Kong was arrested on December 6, 2012 and placed in a deportation center....for 3 months, 15 years later. When Kong's story reached the ears of Marshfield, Massachusetts residents, they were outraged. Setting out on a community letter campaign, reaching media and beckoning their plee to our senators and congressman. We wanted Kong released. Afterall, how much sense does it make to keep a noncriminal in jail, which in turns costs tax payers and leaves a family without a primary provider, etc.? We all know the answer to that question!
As a community we stand behind Kong. Our group is comprised of all sorts of political views from far left to far right...but what we all agree; our plight is first and foremost humanitarian; Kong and others like Kong should be allowed to stay. Our country is in need of Immigration Reform. We are not placing blame on anyone. We are thankful for ICE and Homeland Security. They are doing their best; but like anything there is always room for improvement. Let's start with the criminals, not the tax paying contributing immigrants! Afterall there is no way to deport 15million people. So why not start with the criminals? It is what makes sense. It also saves alot of money ! Why would we put the illegals in jail who are good citizens, paying taxes, working and contributing to the economy? It just doesn't make sense that an ilegal alien could hire a criminal attorney, defend themselves on public dollars and then get released. That is happening! This is unacceptable! Our government agencies need to have communication between each other. Local authorities need access to immigration issues; i.e. when running a driving license, deportation orders or immigration records/orders should come up. There needs to be crossover information. Homeland Security needs the local agencies support to better help them do their jobs. We need immigration laws that protect the people who have lived in our communities and paid their taxes , the immigrants who have proven themselves. When our agencies ignore these people for years, allow for them to stay, have families, create a life for themselves, how after 15 or 20 years do we make them leave? It's inhumane to tear fathers or mothers from their children, husbands from wives. Even if Kong receivesg a waiver, he will still have to go back to China for a time period? This is frightening. As Kong's attorney stated "There are no guarrantees." We want guarrantees that our loved ones will stay safe through these processes. We are talking about human beings; someone's father, mother, sister, brother, son or daughter.
Immigration is one of the hottest political topics out there. But , let's stop talking and get some action. There has got to be someone smart enough on Capitol Hill to put a reasonable plan in front of Congress to clean-up the immigration issues that just hang out out there. Some of these 15million illegals need to be made legal and others need to leave. If these people can prove they have paid taxes, support themselves, contribute to the US economy, for an extended period of time they need to be made citizens or legal. It makes fiscal sense. Criminals and those who choose not to work taking advantage of the systems , or those who send all of their cash out of this country after not paying tax on it, should be where we start; my thoughtss where deportation should start. Just my opinion and I believe it is reasonable. Lynne Ann Habel- Murphy Please note: My opinion is not necessarily shared by the members of this committee or anyone associated with the committee.
We have a long road to make Kong truly a FREE man. Please go to Atty Josh Goldstein's blog to see all the updates on Kong's case...
Thank you Marshfield...You are a true example of community...We hope your example helps others!
Our Friend, Kong Xin Chen Needs Your Help
Kong Xin Chen, 38 years old, husband to an American citizen, Father of two American Citizens: Kong is awaiting deportation. He is of Chinese heritage. He has lived in the U.S. since 1993. Kong has an American family, has a social security number, pays taxes, has a valid Massachusetts Driver's License, owns a business, and is a law abiding citizen. Kong Xin Chen is the "American Dream." He is the image of our ancestors who came to this country bringing forth our birthright, FREEDOM! Kong is hope. He represents the hope that with hard work and perserverance, a person can change their life and others' lives for the better! Please, Free Kong Now!
.
Please Read Kong Xin Chen's story and help us with this humanitarian case and compelling plight!
For an update on Kong's Xin Chen's case : Attorney Josh Goldstein
