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16948: Feldman: TransAfrica Forum Action Alert: Oct. 14--HELP RELEASE A HAITIAN ORPHAN FROM DETENTION (fwd)




Janet Feldman  kaippg@earthlink.net

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
DEAR FRIEND,



WE NEED YOUR IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE TO HELP RELEASE A HAITIAN ORPHAN FROM
DETENTION.  PLEASE FAX LETTERS TO THE FOLLOWING FOUR OFFICIALS DEPARTMENT OF
HOMELAND SECURITY OR THE BUREAU OF IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT.



Tom Ridge
Secretary of Homeland Security
Department of Homeland Security
Naval Security Station
Nebraska & Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20528
Fax:  202-282-8401



John A. Mata
Field Director, Detention &
Removal, Miami Field Office
Bureau of Immigration and
Customs Enforcement
7880 Biscayne Boulevard
Miami, FL 33138
Fax:  305-762-3155



Michael Garcia
Assistant Secretary
Bureau of Immigration and
Customs Enforcement
425 I Street, NW
Washington, DC 20536
Fax:  202 307-9911



John Pogash
Detention and Removal
Bureau of Immigration and
Customs Enforcement
Department of Homeland Security
425 I Street, NW
Washington, DC 20536
Fax:  202-305-2919



YOU MAY PRINT, SIGN, AND FAX THE SAMPLE LETTERS BELOW, OR SAMPLE LETTERS MAY
BE FOUND AT http://www.transafricaforum.org/action/free_ernesto_letters.doc,
OR YOU MAY CREATE YOUR OWN LETTER.

ALSO, PLEASE SEND A BRIEF NOTE TO US INDICATING THAT YOU HAVE SENT OFF THE
LETTERS.



THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

Selena Mendy Singleton, Esq.
Executive Vice President
TransAfrica Forum
1426 21st Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036
phone: 202-223-1960 ext. 134
fax: 202-223-1966
sms@transafricaforum.org

(Date)
Tom Ridge
Secretary of Homeland Security
Department of Homeland Security
Naval Security Station
Nebraska & Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20528
Fax:  202-282-8401
RE:  RELEASE OF ERNESTO JOSEPH

Dear Secretary Ridge:

I am writing to urge you, in the strongest terms possible, to release
Ernesto Joseph, a sixteen-year-old Haitian refugee.  An orphan, Ernesto is
currently locked up by the Department of Homeland Security ("DHS") at the
Comfort Suites Hotel, in South West Miami, Florida.
Under current law, unaccompanied Haitian immigrant children can be and are
detained  indefinitely awaiting the processing of their cases.  Yet, Ernesto
was already released on humanitarian grounds.  Moreover, he has already
demonstrated that he presents no risk of flight and no security risk
because he fully complied with all DHS requirements when he was released -
even appearing for an order of deportation.  Such re-confinement clearly
conflicts with the American ideals to ensure asylum seekers a place of
refugee.

In clear violation of DHS standards, these detained immigrants at the
Comfort Suites Hotel are rarely allowed visitors, mail, reading materials,
or access to the outside world.

One bedroom and one bathroom, along with dirty towels and sheets are shared
by six, often unrelated detainees.  Ernesto has not even had the opportunity
to breathe fresh air or have recreational opportunities since he was
re-detained, as fresh air and physical exercise are prohibited.

Immediate steps are necessary to rectify this grave injustice.  In
particular, I urge you to:
. Immediately release Ernesto from detention at the Comfort Inn Suites in
Miami;
. Immediately consent to allow Ernesto to present his case in juvenile
court;
. Immediately grant Ernesto Special Immigrant Juvenile Status should the
juvenile court judge issue a Best Interest Order in his case; and
. Immediately cease the prolonged and arbitrary detention policies targeted
at Haitian asylum seekers.

I urge you to ensure that Ernest is released immediately.

Sincerely,
(Sign and print your name, along with your address)

(Date)

John A. Mata
Field Director, Detention &
Removal, Miami Field Office
Bureau of Immigration and
Customs Enforcement
7880 Biscayne Boulevard
Miami, FL 33138
Fax:  305-762-3155

RE:  RELEASE OF ERNESTO JOSEPH

Dear Mr. Mata:

I am writing to urge you, in the strongest terms possible, to release
Ernesto Joseph, a sixteen-year-old Haitian refugee.  An orphan, Ernesto is
currently locked up by the Department of Homeland Security ("DHS") at the
Comfort Suites Hotel, in South West Miami, Florida.
Under current law, unaccompanied Haitian immigrant children can be and are
detained  indefinitely awaiting the processing of their cases.  Yet, Ernesto
was already released on humanitarian grounds.  Moreover, he has already
demonstrated that he presents no risk of flight and no security risk because
he fully complied with all DHS requirements when he was released - even
appearing for an order of deportation.  Such re-confinement clearly
conflicts with the American ideals to ensure asylum seekers a place of
refugee.

In clear violation of DHS standards, these detained immigrants at the
Comfort Suites Hotel are rarely allowed visitors, mail, reading materials,
or access to the outside world.

One bedroom and one bathroom, along with dirty towels and sheets are shared
by six, often unrelated detainees.  Ernesto has not even had the opportunity
to breathe fresh air or have recreational opportunities since he was
re-detained, as fresh air and physical exercise are prohibited.

Immediate steps are necessary to rectify this grave injustice.  In
particular, I urge you to:
. Immediately release Ernesto from detention at the Comfort Inn Suites in
Miami;
. Immediately consent to allow Ernesto to present his case in juvenile
court;
. Immediately grant Ernesto Special Immigrant Juvenile Status should the
juvenile court judge issue a Best Interest Order in his case; and
. Immediately cease the prolonged and arbitrary detention policies targeted
at Haitian asylum seekers.

I urge you to ensure that Ernest is released immediately.

Sincerely,
(Sign and print your name, along with your address)

(Date)

Michael Garcia
Assistant Secretary
Bureau of Immigration and
Customs Enforcement
425 I Street, NW
Washington, DC 20536
Fax:  202 307-9911

RE:  RELEASE OF ERNESTO JOSEPH

Dear Assistant Secretary Garcia:

I am writing to urge you, in the strongest terms possible, to release
Ernesto Joseph, a sixteen-year-old Haitian refugee.  An orphan, Ernesto is
currently locked up by the Department of Homeland Security ("DHS") at the
Comfort Suites Hotel, in South West Miami, Florida.
Under current law, unaccompanied Haitian immigrant children can be and are
detained  indefinitely awaiting the processing of their cases.  Yet, Ernesto
was already released on humanitarian grounds.  Moreover, he has already
demonstrated that he presents no risk of flight and no security risk because
he fully complied with all DHS requirements when he was released - even
appearing for an order of deportation.  Such re-confinement clearly
conflicts with the American ideals to ensure asylum seekers a place of
refugee.

In clear violation of DHS standards, these detained immigrants at the
Comfort Suites Hotel are rarely allowed visitors, mail, reading materials,
or access to the outside world.

One bedroom and one bathroom, along with dirty towels and sheets are shared
by six, often unrelated detainees.  Ernesto has not even had the opportunity
to breathe fresh air or have recreational opportunities since he was
re-detained, as fresh air and physical exercise are prohibited.

Immediate steps are necessary to rectify this grave injustice.  In
particular, I urge you to:
. Immediately release Ernesto from detention at the Comfort Inn Suites in
Miami;
. Immediately consent to allow Ernesto to present his case in juvenile
court;
. Immediately grant Ernesto Special Immigrant Juvenile Status should the
juvenile court judge issue a Best Interest Order in his case; and
. Immediately cease the prolonged and arbitrary detention policies targeted
at Haitian asylum seekers.

I urge you to ensure that Ernest is released immediately.

Sincerely,
(Sign and print your name, along with your address
(Date)

John Pogash
Detention and Removal
Bureau of Immigration and
Customs Enforcement
Department of Homeland Security
425 I Street, NW
Washington, DC 20536
Fax:  202-305-2919

RE:  RELEASE OF ERNESTO JOSEPH

Dear Mr. Pogash:

I am writing to urge you, in the strongest terms possible, to release
Ernesto Joseph, a sixteen-year-old Haitian refugee.  An orphan, Ernesto is
currently locked up by the Department of Homeland Security ("DHS") at the
Comfort Suites Hotel, in South West Miami, Florida.
Under current law, unaccompanied Haitian immigrant children can be and are
detained  indefinitely awaiting the processing of their cases.  Yet, Ernesto
was already released on humanitarian grounds.  Moreover, he has already
demonstrated that he presents no risk of flight and no security risk because
he fully complied with all DHS requirements when he was released - even
appearing for an order of deportation.  Such re-confinement clearly
conflicts with the American ideals to ensure asylum seekers a place of
refugee.

In clear violation of DHS standards, these detained immigrants at the
Comfort Suites Hotel are rarely allowed visitors, mail, reading materials,
or access to the outside world.

One bedroom and one bathroom, along with dirty towels and sheets are shared
by six, often unrelated detainees.  Ernesto has not even had the opportunity
to breathe fresh air or have recreational opportunities since he was
re-detained, as fresh air and physical exercise are prohibited.

Immediate steps are necessary to rectify this grave injustice.  In
particular, I urge you to:
. Immediately release Ernesto from detention at the Comfort Inn Suites in
Miami;
. Immediately consent to allow Ernesto to present his case in juvenile
court;
. Immediately grant Ernesto Special Immigrant Juvenile Status should the
juvenile court judge issue a Best Interest Order in his case; and
. Immediately cease the prolonged and arbitrary detention policies targeted
at Haitian asylum seekers.
I urge you to ensure that Ernest is released immediately.

Sincerely,
(Sign and print your name, along with your address)



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