Immigration, Detention, Refugees, Children-in-Captivity, Incarceration. The words encompass so much fear. Each word connects to a human story, a story of suffering and deprivation and distress. Their stories make us shutter. We want to do something. We want to help, and yet we feel helpless. What can we do? How do we get involved? Asking those questions puts us in the path to action. Before we can act we have to understand something about what we’re dealing with. Let’s explore just how scary those beginning words are:
- Over 50,000 children and adults currently languish in immigrant jails and prisons in the United States.
- Immigrants in incarceration lack access to court-appointed attorneys, phone calls, and speedy trials.
- Incarcerated immigrants are subject to medical neglect, sexual and physical assault, and human rights abuse.
- Private prisons, county or jails all profit off their misery. (freedomforimmigrants.org)
We want change. We want healing. We want to make a difference. One person might not feel she can accomplish much, but many persons banded together can. So for those of us looking for information, looking for a group conversation to join, looking to get to work, the four organizations listed below are a great beginning.
Freedom for Immigrants (freedomforimmigrants.org) works across borders to end immigration detention completely. Theirs is a world-wide effort. Until immigrant detention is abolished, they work to end the isolation with visits, friendships, and connections. Fundraising is an important part of this work. Detained immigrants sometimes have the opportunity to be released on a cash bond — which is like bail — while fighting their cases. Once bonded out, they are eight times more likely to win their immigration cases. But without the ability to pay a bond, many individuals are forced to languish in detention, away from their loved ones and communities. You’ll find a link on their website where you can contribute.
Every. Last. One. (everylastone.org) particularly caters to the plight of children caught up in migration and immigration problems. They work to connect children to their families, get them released from detention, and legally sponsored. Family advocation, research, and education about current and past U.S. immigration policy are their goals. They partner with research centers, universities, and community and national civil rights organizations.
Never Again Action—N.H. (neveragainaction.nh.org) has a website and Facebook page where you can read stories and keep informed. They connect you to your politicians. Want to go to work? They give you the tools for signing petitions, writing postcards, joining letter-writing campaigns, and joining local car rallies.
Action Network (actionnetwork.org) offers petitions to sign and letter-writing campaigns as well, plus they give information on both local and wider conversation groups to join and activities. So now let’s get to work!