Introduction: The Myth of Arrival There is a common misconception that the hardest part of an immigrant’s journey is the physical journey to the United States. The prevailing narrative suggests that once a person crosses the border to legally apply for immigration relief, they have finally found safety. At ELOI Ministries Inc., our daily work proves that this is often a tragic myth. For many New Americans, the moment of arrival is not the end of their suffering; it is the beginning of a deeply traumatizing new chapter.
The Renewed Pain of ICE Detention When individuals arrive in the US and make the legal, internationally recognized decision to apply for asylum or other immigration relief, they are not met with compassion. Mostly, they are incarcerated.
- The Reality of the Cell: They are placed in detention centers, jails, or prisons run by ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement).
- Institutional Racism: As highlighted in our featured article, this incarceration is where renewed pain and trauma begin. Depending on the location within the USA, detainees are frequently subjected to severe institutional racism. They are treated as criminals rather than survivors of persecution.
Why Mental Health is Central to Our Mission One of the areas ELOI Ministries takes most seriously is Health. Under our US program, we focus heavily on Mental Health because it has been identified as a critical crisis point for both youth recovering from addiction and immigrants navigating the legal system.
- The Psychological Toll: Imagine fleeing a war zone, political torture, or extreme violence, only to be locked in a cage in the country where you sought refuge. The mental health deterioration that occurs inside these detention centers is catastrophic.
- A Founder’s Empathy: We understand this trauma intimately. Our founder, Pastor Steven Tendo, legally sought asylum and was detained in Texas for over two years, enduring medical neglect that nearly cost him his eyesight. We know that the scars left by this system are not just physical; they are deeply psychological.
Campaigning for a Fairer America We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that refuses to accept this status quo. We are campaigners and policy experts who work together to protect rights and hold the powerful to account.
- Challenging Injustice: Together, we have been making the USA a fairer, more equal place since 2021. We challenge the systemic injustice that traumatizes vulnerable people and defend the freedom of those who simply want a chance to live in peace.
- Restoring Dignity: Our vision is a world where New Americans thrive, youth overcome addiction, and cultures connect, with dignity and hope restored. You cannot restore a person’s dignity while ignoring their mental health or justifying their unlawful or cruel detention.
Conclusion: Join the Fight for Justice We cannot fight this battle alone. The need at the Southern border and within our legal systems is enormous. ELOIM works closely with grassroots organizations to identify those who genuinely need support and have been fully inspected by the authorities. By understanding the profound mental health toll of the immigration process, we can better advocate for policies that heal rather than harm.
