Dear Friends,

My name is Spring Keosoupha, I am from Oakland, California. I identify as a former foster youth, and am systems impacted. I am a recent UC Berkeley graduate (2024) and disabled.

Fourteen years ago, I met my husband Phouvieng “Moose” Keosoupha. I accidently cut him in line and then he asked me out for coffee. From the beginning we have shared a mutual dedication to helping others. We started off as friends and were married within 3 months because I knew Moose was the love of my life. He was wonderful with my kids, and my disabled mother. I had 2 young kids and 2 teenage stepchildren from my previous relationship and Moose stepped up to be a parent in all of their lives. All 4 of them recognize him as a prominent father figure and a pillar of support in their lives today as young adults.

I am writing this letter because we need your help. Moose is now facing imminent deportation to Laos even though he has never been there. He was born in a refugee camp in Thailand when his mother fled Laos due to the war in the 1970’s where her village was bombed killing nearly everybody. He came here lawfully at 3 years old and has been in the United States for 45 years. Deportation would be detrimental to my family as we all depend on my husband as the foundation of support in our lives. The thought of losing Moose is devastating and we love him.

The only way to stop my husband’s deportation is a pardon by Governor Gavin Newsom. Please help save him by signing our petition, and writing a comment to our governor asking for a pardon (in your own words). Our family is struggling to pay for living expenses since ICE has denied the reissuance of Moose’s work permit since June 2025. We now have sparse income without Moose’s career as an IBEW electrician. A pardon would lead to the restoration of Moose's right to work as an electrician and he could continue being an asset to the community.

My husband’s journey: When he was 3, my husband’s family came to the U.S. legally as refugees. His family survived unimaginable hardships. Like many Southeast Asian refugees, they were settled into communities stricken by disparate poverty and crime. At age 17 Moose shot and killed another person who attacked him. He was charged as an adult and served over 17 years in prison on a life sentence. While there, he came to understand and accept responsibility for his actions. He found a relationship with God and committed to turning his life around, pursued self-improvement courses, enrolled in college courses, and dedicated himself to being of service to others. Because of his exemplary conduct and acceptance of responsibility, Moose was granted parole in 2012.

Upon his release from prison, he was immediately transferred to an ICE detention center, where he spent 3 months. Due to his crime, he was stripped of his refugee status and lost his green card. Because Laos was not accepting non-citizens, ICE released Moose under the status of “deported pending removal.” Laos did not have a repatriation agreement with America. Now our worst fears have come true as the current administration is now sending people back to Laos. For 14 years we have been together building a life and family with love and hope for our future. He has shown he is a person who has changed and transformed from the young teenager who committed a terrible crime and he has shown that he is deserving of a pardon from the governor.

Deporting my husband to Laos serves no purpose. Moose is not a citizen of Laos, nor does he speak the language. Here he is an IBEW electrician and the family’s breadwinner. He helps others and also gives back by altruistically serving as a leader and a helper in his community. We are part of several religious and community groups and it would be egregious to separate my husband from our family and the people in the community we dedicate our lives to. His adult children, granddaughter, nephews, niece, senior parents, sister, sister-in-law, and family members would all suffer harm if he were taken away. Please help us keep Moose home. All of his family is here, and he is a productive and contributing member of our Oakland community and greater Bay Area. He has lived continuously in the United States for 45 years and this country is his only home.

Last year was horrifying when my husband was detained for 6 weeks in an ICE detention center. We thought we lost him, but an attorney won his temporary release. He is still made to go to ICE check-ins, is pending deportation, and we fear he will be taken away permanently if he doesn't receive a pardon. The emotional toll is mounting, and we are being pummeled by life.

Comments from the community asking Governor Newsom for a pardon are needed for my husband’s Pardon Application. While he is still here we have the greatest chance of success, but if he is deported the pardon would be the only thing that can ever bring him back.