I'm leaving the ICE Detention facility in Elizabeth, NJ after having met with 5 men, fathers, who came here seeking asylum and instead were separated from their families. This is what they shared with me:
All 5 of these men brought their families to the US to escape #gangviolence in their home countries. They came hoping for a better, safer life for their loved ones. Instead they were separated from their children & have received no update on their children since being detained.
One man broke down when telling me about how his young daughter was ripped from his arms. This is inhumane and traumatizing.
ICE is promising to find out where these men's families are and give them updates. I'm horrified that they don't already have that information.
4 of the men put their trust in our legal system and tried to cross at the boarder & seek asylum. 1 was afraid of violence at the boarder and tried to cross elsewhere. Didn't make a difference. All were detained.