Immigrant Detention: Action Alert

Advocating on behalf of immigrants currently held in detention

May 28, 2003

In this Action Alert:

1. Mass Deportation of Palestinians Signals Shift in Policy
2. No more languishing in detention centers..
3. Over a year in detention - Release Farouk Abdel-Muhti Now!

4.      Four years in Detention – Release Alejandro Knowles Now!

5.   A note for unaffected communities

6.   Know Your Rights

1. Mass Deportation of Palestinians Signals Shift in Policy

The first mass deportation of Palestinians in years took place on May 13, 2003 when 70 Jordanians, Palestinians and Egyptians were taken from Batavia New York (near Buffalo) and flown to Amman, Jordan. Once in Amman, negotiations resulted in the Palestinian detainees being driven to the Occupied Territories in the West Bank. This is a serious shift in policy, with implications for large numbers of

Palestinians settled in the US. Many have lived with deportation orders for years with no likelihood of deportation. Now, apparently the US has changed its policy, and intends to send them to the occupied territories, regardless of long time residence, their or their families'wishes, ongoing immigration

appeals, political instability, or danger.

This issue is urgent, because detainees have been informed that there will be two more similar mass deportations this week - one from Batavia, New York and one from Louisiana.

We urge you to contact your elected officials and community groups to let them know of this inhumane decision to send Palestinians back through third countries. Whatever their origin, all immigrants and asylum seekers facing war in their home country should be allowed to remain at liberty while their case proceeds.

Please call NY and Louisiana Senators and the INS Assistant Commissioner for Detention David J. Venturella, and politely but firmly demand that detainees who are contesting their cases not be removed, that families are provided with information about the location and condition of detainees, and that all detainees be treated humanely. 

Write, call, fax, email:–

The information here is compiled by the Immigrant Justice Solidarity Project (formerly known as Coalition for the Human Rights of Immigrants Detention Working Group), in consultation with other groups organizing visitation, support and advocacy for immigrants in detention. The Campaign to Stop the Disappearances! is:

Immigrant Justice Solidarity Project (IJSP)

2. No more languishing in detention centers..

Teres Mekega, (A#79130813) a Ukranian has been held at Passaic County Jail for ten months. For two months, the Ukranian Embassy has been procrastinating about providing the necessary travel documents for Mr. Mekega. Call the Ukranian Embassy and insist that they send travel documents to his Deportation Officer Sanichar, and to DRUM (address above)

            Contact: Supriya 718-205-3036

3. A year in detention - Release Farouk Abdel-Muhti Now!

In February 2003, Farouk Abdel-Muhti was moved to York Pennsylvania, delaying his case by months and making it more difficult for his legal team.  Last April, Farouk Abdel-Muhti A 21 063 913 was arrested by the Absconder Task Force at his home. The well-known Palestinian rights activist was then detained by the INS on the basis of an outstanding deportation order from 1995 (issued while Farouk was in the hospital)

Since that time a habeas petition has been filed. The petition alleged that Farouk is a stateless Palestinian who cannot be deported and that his continued detention for deportation since Apr. 26 2002 is therefore unlawful and goes against the Supreme Court's decision in Zadvydas v. Davis setting six months as a reasonable time to effect a deportation. From the beginning the INS has claimed that Farouk's case is just a standard detention and has nothing to do with his political activism. His Defense committee holds that Farouk's detention is just part of a wider effort to repress activism as resistance grows to the current administration's illegal war policies and its failed economic policies.

Please

• Contact INS Assistant Commissioner for Detention David J. Venturella and politely but firmly demand Farouk be returned to the New York area and be released. You can reach Venturella at INS, (address above)

• Join the weekly vigils Fridays at the INS office at 26 Federal Plaza 12 noon, Broadway and Worth, Manhattan (4/5/6 to City Hall/Brooklyn Bridge walk west and north, N/R/Q/W to Canal, walk west and south)

4.       Four years in Detention – Release Alejandro Knowles Now!

Alejandro Knowles (A#40856757) is a Cuban detainee at Passaic County Jail, He has been held by the INS for over four years and his health is failing. His mother is extremely ill, and he is concerned that he is not able to help her.  It appears that BICE are unable to deport him. As a result, he must be released.

5. Immigrant families need your support! Contribute to the Emergency Family and Legal Fund

Since September 11^th 2001, almost 5,000 people of Arab, South Asian, and Muslim origin have been rounded up by the US government and disappeared. For months now, the FBI, the INS, and other law enforcement agencies have been racially profiling immigrants and raiding homes and workplaces, in many cases arresting people in the middle of the night and in front of their families. The vast majority of these people continue to languish in county jails and federal prisons without ANY charges brought against them.

Our communities and families need your support. DRUM works with detainees and their families as part of the campaign to Stop the Disappearances! Many detainees are experiencing deteriorating health as they languish in jails simply because they cannot afford bail or bond money and have no support outside. Others still are in urgent need of funds to help support the families left behind. Please help fight for their release by sending a donation to our special fund. Please make your checks out to "The Brecht Forum" and write "Fund" in the memo.  Mail your checks to DRUM (address below). Your donations are tax deductible.

A NOTE FOR UNAFFECTED COMMUNITIES

Stop the Disappearances Campaign! is dedicated to following the leadership of those in communities directly affected by INS detentions, especially DRUM’s constituency of families of detainees and detainees. However, we encourage those who are not from these communities to show their support and get involved in the fight to end immigrant detention. We have four suggestions of appropriate ways to show your support:

1. Form an action team! This is a group of five or more people who commit to making a call or fax each day (for a period of a week every few weeks) on the situation of someone in detention. Contact Abby email [email protected]
2. Donate money to the DRUM bond and support fund, each dollar goes directly to support families of those detained, or to provide the bonds to set detainees free! (contact DRUM)
3. Offer to drive detainee family members and community members to make visits to detainees. Contact mac 646-489-4375 [email protected]
If you or anyone you know has legal expertise become part of the needed legal network to represent and assist detainees in their cases. Contact Megan [email protected]

Know Your Rights!

Trainings and Wallet-Sized Palm-Cards (Spanish, Arabic, English and Urdu) are available from the Know Your Rights Committee of CHRI.

You have these rights in the USA (regardless of your immigration status!):

·         You do not have to answer any questions by the police, FBI, INS, or other law enforcement.  Do not talk without a lawyer.  Say you want to see a lawyer.

·         You do not have to sign any paper without a lawyer with you.

·         You do not have to let the police, FBI, INS or anyone else come into your house without a "warrant" (special paper from a judge).  Tell your roommates not to let them in without a warrant.

·         You do not have to answer any questions about your immigration.

·         You do not have to show identification unless you are driving a car.

(Backs of cards list places to call for legal assistance, finding a lawyer, and other resources)

For more information or a complete training, in Spanish or English, please call CHRI: 212-254-2591, and leave a message for Lara of the KYR Committee.

***Thanks to those who have called, faxed and written. Many cases in past bulletins have been quickly resolved. 60 detainees have been transferred from the horrendous conditions in Passaic to the better conditions of Hudson County Correctional. Letter Writing Works!. Applying pressure with fax zaps and letter campaigns has convinced many officials and politicians to provide needed medical treatment, expedite bond releases and voluntary departures and deportations. Visitation is a lifeline for detainees and our advocacy helps.****

STOP THE DISAPPEARANCES!

Our demands:

1.   Release all detainees being held for immigration violations.

2.   Repeal the racist Patriot Act, the 1996 Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (IIRIRA), and the 1996 Anti-Terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act.

1.       Release a real list of all 9/11 detainees.

2.       Provide detainees with immediate, full and proper access to legal information and representation.

5.       Ensure all facilities used for detention meet the INS standards for detention.

6.       Inform detainees of when they will appear before a judge, be released, or be deported.

7.       Stop holding detainees who have been granted bond or ordered removed.

8.       End all cooperation between the INS and local law enforcement.