by a former client
I am a Mexican youth who arrived in 2014 to the Shenandoah Valley Juvenile Center where I remained for several months. In this place I felt alone, I think that it was like to be in the middle of the sea, totally alone. I felt that I was a delinquent with a uniform. When I arrived they took all my belongings, and gave me a uniform. To walk through the aisle I had to look down and with no words. I arrived at a cold room, they say welcome to your home. The bed was like a rock, they gave me a blanket but I was so thin that it did not feel warm. The bathroom was in the same room. I was in section B that implied that I had more freedom but just to walk into the detention center, while other were totally isolated. The only thing that made me happy was to call to my family once a week.
When I was there I met Diane from CAIR Coalition. She was the first person that I met to take my case. She uses to visiting me every week until she got pregnant and she left. Then Ursela took my case and I think she made everything as she could for helping me. She was with me twice in court. Back then, I also met Elizabeth who connected me with Latin American Youth Center to find a safe place to live when I turned 18 years old. Finally I met Nithya who went with me at court too. She helped me to close my case, it was no more courts, no more ICE! I cannot believe that I was been in this process for more than one year and now I am glad and very grateful with CAIR Coalition for their help. I am glad and safe living in DC and I am looking for a job because finally I have my permission to work.
Help us celebrate Noviembre de Niños and purchase an item off of our Amazon Wish List which will be gifted to immigrant children in detention facilities served by CAIR Coalition.
