Day Ten

Day ten.

   At this point, I thought I would be about half way through this experience, but one of the people who orients the new crews needs to be away for what would have been the weekend after I left, so I've signed on for another few days.  I know already that I will need the two day drive home to decompress.

  Highlights of the day:  a fourth win (4/4) of an asylum case.  They have all been domestic violence cases; we are gearing up for the first gang-related case.  AND, our team rode the van from our hut to our cars with a woman and her child who were free!  They were leaving to catch a bus for a long trip to the Midwest.  Joyful moments.

   It is 1:30 and I have an early start tomorrow, so I am going to borrow from one of my teammates and mentors from last week - Rebecca.  (If any of you from last week read this, I MISS YOU!)  Amazing how close you can become with someone just from working hard together.

   Many of you have asked what you can do.  Rebecca summed it up nicely.  Read on.

So many generous people have offered to help the women and children in Artesia. Unfortunately, ICE will not permit us to provide any clothing, goods, money, etc. to detainees currently inside the facility. However, here are a few other ways you can help:

PRE-PAID $20 VISA GIFT CARDS FOR BUS TRIP: A few families are now being released on bond, and we are allowed to give them things as they exit the facility and make their way toward their final destination (usually via Greyhound). We try to provide each family with a $20 pre-paid visa gift card so they can buy water/snacks and make phone calls during the journey. Please mail the gift cards to: AILA Pro Bono Project, ATTN: Christina Brown, P.O. Box 1422, Artesia, NM 88211.

SPEAK UP: Using the tool provided by the National Immigrant Justice Center at the below link, call or send a message to your representatives in Congress telling them to stop jailing refugee mothers and children: http://org2.salsalabs.com/o/5967/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=18603

ATTORNEY TRAVEL EXPENSES:  The vast majority of attorney volunteers have come without any financial assistance--paying for their own travel expenses AND facing loss of revenue for not doing any of their own client work while they’re away. A fund has been set up through the American Immigration Council to reimburse their travel expenses: https://wfc2.wiredforchange.com/o/8531/p/salsa/donation/common/public/?donate_page_KEY=8356

OFFICE SUPPLIES: We need the following supplies to be purchased and shipped directly to the volunteer attorney office in Artesia: filing cabinets, case file folders, two-hole punches, and copy paper. If you can help with these items, contact me directly, and I can put you into contact with the office manager as to what the needs are on a weekly basis.

ATTORNEY VOLUNTEERS: There is a desperate need to have Spanish-speaking attorneys on the ground in Artesia every week. You would need to commit to arriving on Sunday evening for an orientation and then staying for at least 5 days. Contact your AILA Chapter Chair in your area to sign up, and to see if there are local funds to reimburse you for your travel expenses. More information is also available at: https://wfc2.wiredforchange.com/o/8531/p/salsa/donation/common/public/?donate_page_KEY=8356   (Kris adds - ANY volunteers, lawyers or people willing to help copy documents; Spanish speaking non-lawyers who might translate for a non-Spanish speaking lawyer.  There is work here for almost anyone.) 

FUTURE CARE PACKAGES: A non-profit here in NM is preparing to announce a project for donations of clothing, shoes, socks, diapers, wipes, water bottles, wrapped snacks, and coloring books/crayons to be made into care packages for the bus ride after the families get released. As soon as I have information about that project I will share it