California Governor Pardons Berkeley’s Ecology Center Recycling Program Director

California Governor Jerry Brown has granted a pardon to Daniel Maher, the recycling program director for the Ecology Center in Berkeley, Calif. Brown also granted pardons to 55 others.

Maher was arrested and sent to prison in 1995 on charges of robbery, kidnapping and others, but he was released early for good behavior and spent three years on parole. His arrest caused him to lose his green card and put him at risk for deportation, which this pardon should put to rest.

Maher immigrated to California at the age of 2 from Macau. In addition to his role as recycling program director, Maher also trains low-income youth for positions in the recycling industry.

The Daily Californian has more information:

According to a statement released by the Ecology Center, in 2015, Maher was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, but was released after the Asian Law Caucus filed a lawsuit. After his release, however, deportation still remained a possibility for Maher.

“He has shown that since his release from custody, he has lived an honest and upright life, exhibited good moral character, and conducted himself as a law-abiding citizen,” Brown said in a statement.

Jacinda Abcarian, development director of the Ecology Center, said in an email that the center is “thrilled and gratified” by the pardon, which addresses his pending deportation order by allowing his lawyers to seek immigration relief for him.

Read the full story here.