There’s a common misconception in the United States about the people held in immigration detention. The narrative often paints them as “illegal,” dangerous, or law-breakers. The reality is that a vast number of them are doing something protected under both US and international law: they are seeking asylum.
An asylum seeker is someone who has fled their home country due to a well-founded fear of persecution based on their race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group. They are not criminals. They are survivors.
So, if it’s legal, why are they being put in jails and detention centers run by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)?
The Trauma of Detention
Upon arriving in the US to make their legal claim, most asylum seekers are immediately placed into a system of incarceration. This is where their trauma is compounded.
- Dehumanizing Conditions: They are often held in prison-like facilities, stripped of their autonomy and dignity.
- Lack of Due Process: Access to legal counsel is extremely limited, making it nearly impossible to navigate a complex legal system in a foreign language.
- Medical and Mental Health Neglect: As our founder experienced, healthcare is often inadequate, and the psychological toll of indefinite detention is immense.
- Institutional Racism: The treatment individuals receive can vary drastically, with systemic biases affecting who is detained, for how long, and under what conditions.
This system is not designed to process legal claims efficiently or humanely. It is designed to deter and punish people for seeking safety.
How ELOIM Fights Back
We refuse to accept this as normal. Our Access to Justice program works on the front lines to counter these injustices:
- Partnership: We work with grassroots organizations at the southern border and beyond to identify individuals in need of support.
- Advocacy: We fight for the rights of the detained, connecting them with legal resources and advocating for their release.
- Support: We provide a network of care for those who have been released, helping them get back on their feet and begin their new lives in the US.
It’s time to change the narrative. Seeking asylum is not a crime; it is a courageous act of survival. And we will not rest until every person who seeks it is treated with the dignity and justice they deserve.
Join the fight for justice:
- Host an Immigrant: Provide a safe place for someone who has just been released from detention.
- Donate: Your gift helps us connect asylum seekers with the life-saving resources they need.
