I have been deported from the United States three times, but my family is more important than my freedom With my daughter *My name is Leonidas de Jesus Loza Ocon. I am 44 years old. I currently live in El Salvador, but my home and my family are all in

A short film produced by CIVIC and NYU’s Immigrant Rights Clinic CIVIC: You Tube Learn about the history, laws, and unjust realities of the U.S. immigration detention system in this short 5-minute film. *Narrated by Kristina Shull. Script by Rachel Levenson and Terry Ding at NYU’s Immigrant

How Patrick Thaxter, who spent three years in immigration detention, resisted deportation Patrick Thaxter is a former chef who now works quietly in the kitchen of a good friend in Germantown, Philadelphia. Originally from Jamaica, he traveled to the U.S. for a soccer tournament eighteen years ago. On that

Jose was detained at the Adelanto Detention Center in California for over a year, from 2015–2016 Photo Credit: Tina Shull My name is Jose U. I am 44 years old and have lived in the United States for 24 years in the San Fernando Valley in California. I have

TJ spent six years in U.S. immigration detention Photo Credit: Helgi Halldórsson; Wikimedia Commons *This is Part II of TJ’s story. Part I, in which TJ details the circumstances under which he fled his home country and his six years in detention, can be found here. “Give me

Poetry by Alexandra La Golosa Photo Credit: Tina Shull Poetic Contest by Alexandra La Golosa As any rhyming child since tender age I have been harnessed to go on stage By teacher of the literature. I really don’t know what she could see In me, back in the schooldays;

Maria Ortiz Cortez was released after being detained for a year and a half at the West County Detention Facility in Richmond, CA Maria with her children, Brandon and Marisela **UPDATE: CIVIC was able to help raise Maria’s bond, and on her birthday, June 9, 2017, she was released

Victor Perez, 23, spent over three years at the Adelanto Detention Center in California Victor (left) with his sister Valeria. Donate to his bond fund campaign so they can be reunited. Hello, my name is Victor Perez and I have been in ICE custody at the Adelanto Detention Center since

I was advocating and litigating from inside ICE detention for over 6 years, and I have since been deported Photo Credit: Tina Shull Before I begin my rendition I respectfully request you to not include my name because of the very sensitive nature of my situation. I fear repercussions from