Norton Tooby, California Immigration Lawyer donated thousands of dollars worth of his books to the men detained in the Eloy Detention Facility. The books included Aggravated Felonies, Crimes Involving Moral Turpitude and Post-Conviction Relief. The detainees at Eloy have successfully used the books to challenge the charges of removal.

Isaac Gaary Stepp, a long-time detainee in Eloy, was completely distraught to learn that he was facing deportation for life for his one conviction for sale of a small amount of a controlled substance. Isaac was born in Mexico and abandoned by his biological parents in infancy. He was soon adopted by two United States Citizen parents and lived his entire life in the United States. Isaac’s public defender, unfortunately failed to advise him of the consequences of his plea.

Isaac decided to use Norton’s books to seek post-conviction relief, as he felt he had been denied effective assistance of counsel in his criminal plea. After studying Norton’s books, Isaac filed his own motion to vacate his criminal conviction in superior court. Isaac’s conviction was ultimately vacated and his immigration charges were dismissed. He is now living in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Norton’s books have bolstered the detainees’ ability to effectively represent themselves pro se. Fighting pro se from a detintion facility creates enormous obstacles fro most men as they have limited access to cutting edge legal materials which instruct them on how to fight against criminal charges of removel. Norton’s materials have revolutionized the legal skills of the detainees and have begun to level the playing field for the immigrants at Eloy.