Sounding worn out after his ordeal, an undocumented worker described his experience being detained by law enforcement since March due to his legal status in the U.S. He spoke at the June 16 annual meeting of the Needham Area Immigration Justice Task Force (NAIJTF).
The task force is a nonpartisan, nondenominational, charitable organization that promotes actions and policies that welcome and support immigrants.
The man was not identified due to safety considerations, and his comments were translated from Spanish to English for the meeting attendees by Diego Low, director of the Metrowest Worker Center, Casa.
“The first week [in detention] was the end of the world,” said Low as he translated the former Milford man’s story. The man had to wear an ankle monitor after being released two weeks ago on $10,000 bond.
“Even sleeping was hard,” Low translated, saying it was upsetting for the man, who has been in the U.S. since 2008, to be away from his partner and four daughters.
“I was depressed but I was determined to get out to be with them,” translated Low.
His 16-year-old daughter, who also was not identified by name, said she and her family were devastated by her father’s absence. They missed him and struggled to survive on only their mother’s paycheck.
“I have always admired my dad and how hard he has worked,” she said in English. While he was in custody, “I felt very down … and it made me very sad.”
When her 4-year-old sister asked where her father was, the teen said she couldn’t respond because “I didn’t want to break her heart.”
With his recent return, she said, “now we’re happy to be with our dad” and thanked everyone who has helped them.
Low said he and his colleagues could not divulge much about the worker’s case, including which specific branch of law enforcement took him into custody. However, he said a number of vehicles surrounded and stopped the van the man was in, including ones belonging to the Milford Police and others that had federal insignias.
The worker said he believed law enforcement targeted the van since there were ladders on top, indicating several immigrant workers were likely inside.
Low said the majority of immigrants they’ve interacted with don’t have any criminal records. They’re mostly people on their way to work, some of whom do have permits to work in the country.
By detaining a main earner from a family, it punishes the whole community, said Low, since bond and legal fees are often overwhelming.
The worker himself said he understood law enforcement going after those with criminal records but couldn’t see why they’d target the “most vulnerable.”
“Why are they going after the most recently arrived?” he asked through Low.
Although he could not discuss the details of his case, the man looked toward the future and said, “I will battle on and try to live the life in this land that I’ve come to love,” while thanking the audience.
Karen Price with the NAIJTF said they are involved in fundraising for families with detained loved ones and will be participating along with other groups that will be obtaining, prepping and delivering food to immigrant families. More information is at Needham Area Immigration Justice Task Force
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