North Texans gathered outside a Dallas ICE facility on Sunday to protest alleged inhumane conditions for detainees.
DALLAS — At just 17 years old, Gabriella Perez has a lot to carry.
“It should be memorizing school deadlines and not eight numbers to be able to contact their loved ones,” said Perez as she spoke in front of a crowd of people outside the Dallas ICE field office.
“Don’t forget where you come from,” Perez said. “Don’t ever forget to stand up for your people.”
She’s standing up for her dad, who she said was detained by ICE on Wednesday.
“He was on his way to work, and six cars got in front of him and they basically surrounded him,” Perez said.
She said her uncle and two cousins were detained in a separate incident too.
“I have felt followed,” she said. “All the times I’ve heard that immigration was near my house, it was all because they, we were being haunted. I feel like as if I’m a criminal even though I’m a US citizen. I feel like I’m being targeted. I feel like just seeing my whole family being targeted, it’s unfair.”
She joined others at a community vigil, Sunday outside the Dallas ICE field office. The group, Vecinos Unidos, organized the vigil. Vecinos Unidos means Neighbors United.
Noemi is a volunteer with the group. She told WFAA that they organized the vigil after families with relatives inside the Dallas office told them their loved ones were being held in inhumane conditions.
“We heard about what was happening just feet away from where we’re standing right now which is inhumane conditions that amount to torture where the result is coercion on immigrants who are being forced to sign their deportation orders in order to just avoid being overheated, exhausted, starved, and dehydrated eventually,” said Noemi, Vecinos Unidos volunteer.
Sandra Avalos is also a volunteer. “Some of them are down to their garments because of how hot it is. There’s no place for them to sleep, so they’re sleeping on the floor,” said Avalos, Vecinos Unidos.
“It’s sad. All of us are humans. Illegal, not illegal,” said Jamie Medina, an Arlington resident who attended the vigil.
ICE sent WFAA the following statement on Friday:
“ICE has legal authority to temporarily house illegal aliens while they are being processed after their arrest. Any allegations that these processing centers do not have beds, running water, or other basic essentials are FALSE.
“ICE takes its commitment to promoting safe, secure, humane environments for those in our custody very seriously. It is a longstanding practice to provide comprehensive medical care from the moment an alien enters ICE custody. This includes medical, dental, and mental health intake screening within 12 hours of arriving at each detention facility, a full health assessment within 14 days of entering ICE custody or arrival at a facility, and access to medical appointments and 24-hour emergency care. ICE is regularly audited and inspected by external agencies to ensure that all ICE facilities comply with performance-based national detention standards.”
“The lies and laws that are being applied to criminalize our existence are lies, and we will call them out as that because we belong and we ain’t going anywhere,” said Noemi.
With her dad at a different detention center, Perez said her fight will continue not just for her family, but for everyone.
“Don’t let privilege blow your empathy,” she said. “Just because it’s not your struggle, doesn’t mean it isn’t real.”
Great Job & the Team @ WFAA RSS Feed: news Source link for sharing this story.