A bunch of folks asked me how to sign up to host a released detainee. I’m not sure I ever did, I just know Julie, who founded Immigrant Families Together, and she knows I’m in Seattle. She contacted me and another mutual friend, Naomi, and we made it happen.
These organizations helped get M to my house and back to her family, but you may have a local immigrant’s project too. Almost guaranteed.
1. Immigrant Families Together raised the 15k bond and organized M’s release like it was some kind of goddamn magic trick. I don’t know how it works, but hey, they got our bird and helped her fly free.
2. AIDNW has a trailer outside ICE in Tacoma so there’s someone to help when ICE drops released detainees on the curb in this industrial district with no services and yes, I am screaming into my pillow now.
3. Miles for Migrants organizes travel for migrants to get them from whatever stupid place the US gov has sent them to where they should be and okay, that’s my language, not theirs. Yes, a seat upgrade is super nice. You know what’s also nice? Knowing that when you’ve been released from prison for the non-crime of seeking asylum, you won’t have to scrape up the money for a plane ticket to where your family is because they’re hundreds of miles away.
4. CMPI provided resources on the other end to support M when she arrived at her destination. I don’t know much about them, but they were part of the team.
5. Vote.org allows you to check your voter registration status and hand to whatever god you believe in, if you are not registered to vote or you are and too apathetic to do so, and I find out, I will come to your house and personally kick your ass. I will probably lose, I am out of shape and really tired, but it would be worth it just to prove to you how much I mean it.
6. Showing Up for Racial Justice has a “sponsor a migrant” program where you can commit to opening your home to a migrant so they’ll have a safe place to stay while figuring out what the hell happens next. There’s no question I’d have let M stay longer if she needed it because on top of everything, she was a genuinely sweet person and super easy to have around.
Get out there and do something hard, friends. Remember. Speak up. Put your feet on the ground and go to an event, however you can, in whatever capacity works for you. Give more than you feel you can because someone needs it more.
These bastards are evil incarnate. They held M’s 8 year old niece for three months. An eight year old child. I don’t even like kids and that enrages me. (Okay, I like your kids. A lot. But.)
I can’t do this alone; all of us must lace up our fascist fighting shoes and get out there, in whatever way we can. M is out and with her family now, but there are so many more not there yet.
History has its eyes on us.
Now, get to work