We wanted to give you an update from Arizona. Over the last 11 days the families on hunger strike inside Eloy Detention Center and outside the Phoneix ICE offices have faced deportation, police harassment, and hospitalization.
But with your support, they continue resolute in their mission to call attention to the deportations tearing their families apart. Today we are asking you to make a call to the ICE offices in Washington D.C. in support of the hunger strikers.
Please call 202-732-3000.
Suggested call script: “Hi, I am calling in support of the families who are in hunger strike in Phoenix Arizona. I would like to ask that immigration uses prosecutorial discretion to release and stop the deportation of:
Arturo Castaneda Martinez (A205-942-830)
J Cruz Lopez (A205-920-821)
Elder Gomez-Lopez (A205-930-728)
Margarita Rojas Ramirez (A205-936-572)
Rosy Rojas Gallego (A205-930-728)In addition, Jaime Arturo Valdez Reyes (A201-288-309), who was deported on the night of February 24th, even though he had a pending appeal in immigration court, should be brought back to the United States. Thank you.”
The path has not been easy. On the night of February 24th, Jaime Valdez-Reyes, one of the hunger strike participants was deported to Mexico. He was removed as punishment for defending his civil rights. Meanwhile, the Phoenix police outside removed the family members outside, and arrested two Arizona activists, Carlos Garcia from Puente, and Erika Andiola from DRM Dream Action Coalition.
The families and hunger strikers returned to the ICE offices the next morning, and they have ben there ever since. Carlos and Erika were released by the police the next day, and have both said that what is important is to continue to fight for the release of those inside detention, and to ask ICE to bring Jaime back.