 |
| Life-size cutouts symbolizing the 1,100 individuals deported every day |
To a room
full of teary-eyed staffers from the offices of members of the House of Representatives,
Maria recounted tales from her experience inside the Eloy detention center. She
told us about the infections and illnesses she contracted due to lack of
medical attention, the irony of having to work for $1 a day given that she was
arrested precisely for working, the moldy food she was forced to eat, the
maggots in the meat, which the guards claimed were simply extra sources of
protein, and the emotional distress experienced by people who have been
detained. Despite everything she has gone through, the trauma, and the fear
that is now constantly with her, Maria is here in D.C. standing strong and
sharing her story to make sure there is a stop to unnecessary detentions and
deportations, and that people like her are not excluded from immigration
reform.
Maria is
just one of the over 100 people who will be gathering in D.C. for the National
Convening of Persons in Deportation Proceedings. They will be in D.C. this week for a series of
actions demanding that President Obama put an end to all deportations. They
will also be attending workshops designed to teach community members to fight
deportation orders. The week is also the last week of a rolling fast that began in California in early March to
bring attention to the more than 1,100 people deported each day.
The separation of families that occurs because of deportations causes immense pain and suffering for families and for whole communities. The courage and strength of people like Maria are truly inspiring. Let us use that inspiration to fuel our continued advocacy for just and compassionate policies. Let us continue to show love and care for all our brothers and sisters.
