Artesia Betrays America: Part II
People didn’t seem to matter in Artesia, not their comfort, not their privacy, not the simple human dignity we all take for granted. There was deep and profound soul shattering heartbreak, watching these vulnerable women and children who have come to this country...
Artesia Betrays America: Part I
In June and July, the humanitarian crisis on the border lit up the news and it was all I could think about. The headlines were full of unaccompanied minors, politicians and protesters; the front pages had pictures of children sleeping in warehouses that were too...
An Arduous Success in Artesia
Friends - I share the good news that Lisa Weinberg successfully has obtained parole for one of our clients, a mother with a very sick toddler who had stopped walking and eating solid food since arriving in Artesia. As far as I know, this is the first order allowing...
Judge Us by our Treatment of Child Refugees
Over the Labor Day weekend, I read the personal memoir of a World War II child refugee. A Long Way Home, by Bob Golan was published in 2005, although it was written from the contemporaneous notes of a 12 year boy whose family was driven from their home in Poland at...
What Does a Week in Artesia Look Like?
AILA Member Megan Kludt headed down to Artesia to donate her time and knowledge, seeking to help the women and children jailed and facing an expedited deportation process. Here, in her own words, are a few snapshots from her days so far, for the full blog, see:...
Let These Women Go
There is a town in El Salvador where a woman named M-C- lived. In 2003, her husband beat her face until the purple welts glowed. Your bloody face means you are mine, he said. He hit her for asking why he hit her. An open palm. A closed fist. On her arms. On her face....
After a Month in Artesia
I left Artesia on Saturday morning after about a month of volunteering. In that month, the days were approximately 16-19 hours long and full of horrific stories and circumstances that attorneys outside of Artesia can barely begin to imagine. So it’s not surprising I’m...
Beyond Artesia: Without a Choice in Karnes Detention Center
I attended the first Know-Your-Rights (KYR) presentation as a volunteer lawyer at the Karnes Detention Center on Friday. The KYR was offered by American Gateways in Austin. The organization has stepped up to offer weekly presentations, but does not have funding to...
Leaving Artesia
Only a few members of our Oregon chapter are able to stay on longer in Artesia at this time. I'm not one of them, and I'm feeling really guilty about leaving. I think it is amazing that our chapter has rallied behind the effort in Artesia and that people are making...
A Volunteer’s Experience at Artesia
I spent last week at the Artesia “family detention” center, a 4-hour drive from both Albuquerque and El Paso. We had a group of roughly ten volunteers (attorneys, translators, and administrative staff) trying to stop the rapid deportations and see that the women and...
