From Ny
To my loved ones and community:
I am writing you from the Yuba County Jail. I had hoped to finally be free by now, but ICE continues to fight to separate me from my community and only home that I have ever known, California.
I cannot express my thanks enough to everyone who showed up to my hearing and wrote me letters. Since I attended my hearing by webcam, I could not see all of you, but knowing that you were there supporting me provided me comfort and allowed me to courageously speak my truth as a survivor.
I am grateful that the judge believed in me and granted protection from deportation. So many times, judges, prosecutors, and police have refused to believe in my experience as a survivor. These very same institutions claim to protect survivors, yet fill prisons and detention centers with us.
ICE’s appeal and refusal to release me once again shows the system’s disregard for justice and the well being of survivors. They continue to try to criminalize me and punish me further by deporting me. ICE proudly abuses its power just like abusive partners do. For the past 16 years, ICE and prisons have done my abuser’s work of punishing me for him. Before prison, he isolated me from my community, controlled where I could go, who I could talk to, and what I could wear. While incarcerated, prisons and ICE have done the same thing to me.
I am frustrated and saddened that this system is devoid of compassion and humility. Still, I have hope that freedom will come soon and I will join all of you. My hope comes from all of you. Your love, your compassion, and our community are stronger than their hate. Together, we will be free.
With love and solidarity,
Ny