RGBM Volunteer Alethea Eason's Reflection
An Opportunity to Write Letters to Detained Immigrants
Episcopal Migration Ministries
Fifty-three families have been detained in Dilley, TX for over 100 days. Of these, 35 have been there for over 300 days. They have waited out 3-10 months of depression, medical neglect, reheated food, nonexistent education, and the anxiety of an uncertain future, all just hoping for the chance to be safe in the United States. They have had to sue for their rights to a fair asylum process. They have watched their friends sue over other unfair parts of the asylum process; and even after those friends won their lawsuits, these 53 families have not been able to benefit from those decisions.
In one of the states hardest-hit by COVID-19, these families are now watching guards come in to work after a weekend at the bars, leave their masks off, and hug the detained children. They have seen judge after judge decide the law cannot force ICE to release them. They are now preparing to decide whether to send their children alone to sponsors or keep them detained in a congregate setting where their growth has stunted, development has been repressed, and behavior has regressed— all while coronavirus is slowly but surely spreading among the staff.
These 53 families have no idea what future is in store for them. They have loved to see themselves, their friends, and their advocates fighting for them in the news or protesting for their rights in Dilley. They would love to hear from people all over the country who are supporting them and rooting for them. That's why we're renewing our call for letters of encouragement for our detained families.
The vast majority of our families speak Spanish; we have one family each who speak Haitian Creole and Portuguese. If you're multilingual, please apportion your cards accordingly. Subject of the letters may include:
your support for these plaintiffs
your belief that they deserve justice
your encouragement to fight for their own families and those that will come after them
your best wishes/prayers/blessings for them
your thanks for having the courage to stand up to a government doing everything it can to wear them down and get rid of them
what you/ your family/ your friends/ your community/ your congresspeople have been doing to fight for them
Children are also welcome to send drawings. Unfortunately, due to STFRC rules, we cannot pass out any food or gifts of any kind, even stickers.
Please mail letters to:
Mackenzie Levy
C/o Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid
1111 N. Main Ave
San Antonio TX 78212
OPTIONAL REQUEST
Due to privacy concerns and the fact that we are no longer physically present in the detention center due to COVID, our paralegal Mackenzie will collect all of the letters and mail them individually to each family. If you are writing multiple letters, or you and a group of others are getting together to write letters, and you would like to make Mackenzie's life easier, please place each letter into a blank envelope and then place all envelopes into one larger package to send together.
O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us through your Son, Jesus Christ.Look with compassion on the whole human family.Take away the arrogance and hatred which infect our hearts.Break down the walls that separate us.Unite us in bonds of love.Help us to work through our struggle and confusionto accomplish your purposes on earth, that, in your good time,all nations and races may serve you in harmony around your heavenly throne.Through Jesus Christ our Lord
AMEN