During his 22 years in prison, Kao Saelee helped put out wildfires in California, learning skills that could help communities recover from the catastrophic climate disasters happening on the West Coast.

On his first day of freedom — after serving his time and fighting fires, Kao was apprehended and transferred to an ICE facility in Louisiana.

He now faces deportation to Laos, a country his family fled when he was only two years old.

Our immigration process is not only unjust, but it serves at cross-purposes with what our communities need.

Firefighters are essential to our recovery from climate disasters.

Kao is essential to California.

#ImmigrantsAreEssential.

🎨 by @zelleyart