“Restore Fairness” produced by Breakthrough in association with 26 leading organizations, calls for the U.S. government to bring back due process and fairness to the immigration system. The video features the powerful voices of Congresswomen Zoe Lofgren and Lucille Roybal-Allard, Judges Dana Marks, Bruce Einhorn, civil society leaders Anthony Romero, Donald Kerwin, Karen Narasaki and Mallika Dutt as well as three very compelling personal stories with Jean-Pierre Kamwa, an asylum seeker from Cameroon, June Everett who lost her sister to immigration detention, and Walter Chavez and Ana Galindo, legal permanent residents who were victims of a warrantless home raid. Watch this story and take action to ensure that the U.S. government restores due process and fairness to our immigration system.
Live From Jail
Breakthrough was given rare access behind the walls of an immigrant detention center and met several long time residents who face exile from the U.S. As one named Monica says, “I see when I’ve gone to court… the judge, he seems like he wants to rule in my favor but he can’t because his hands are tied.” Watch their stories and take action to ensure that the U.S. government restores the ability of judges to consider individual circumstances so everyone receives a fair day in court.
Juana Villegas: A Pregnant Woman Detained
Juana Villegas was 9 months pregnant and never pictured herself as a mom-to-be behind bars. She was taken in for a routine traffic violation that is normally taken care of by a simple citation. This violation (of which she was later cleared) was handled by immigration authorized local police and she was locked up in a jail in her state. Taken to the hospital in chains, she went through labor with a sheriff’s officer standing guard in her hospital room, where one of her feet was cuffed to the bed most of the time. She talks of her pain after giving birth, “The nurse brought me a breast pump… she asked permission for me to take it to jail… again the sheriff said, no.” Watch Juana’s story and take action to ensure that the U.S. government stops the continued use of local law enforcement to enforce federal immigration law.
Sandra Kenley: Death by Detention
Sandra Kenley, a 52-year-old grandmother, who after living in the U.S. legally for 33 years, was subjected to degrading and grossly inhumane conditions, which led to her untimely death. Her sister June Everett says, “Sandy died trying to do the right thing. She died because the American system failed her, a system we believed in, a system that needs fixing now.” Watch June tell her sister’s story and take action to ensure that the U.S. government creates legally enforceable detention standards and implements cost effective alternatives to detention.
Warren Joseph: Military Man Faces Deportation
Warren Joseph, a Trinidadian who came to the U.S., obtained his Green Card and chose to do the ultimate American act – join the Army. After returning from the war in Iraq he suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and languished for 3 years in inhumane immigrant detention. He says, “There’s many physical abuses up there, the thing is who can you tell?” Watch Warren’s story and take action to ensure that the U.S. government creates legally enforceable detention standards and implements cost effective alternatives to detention.
Agatha Joseph: Exposing Detention
Agatha Joseph’s daughter was only 17 when she was placed in detention. She spent 3 years fighting for her case in 7 detention centers—all for making a small mistake as a teenager. Agatha tells how officials treated her daughter, “She was in a gymnasium that housed 200 people. There was only one exit door and a fire broke out and they shut the gymnasium down and everyone was locked in.” Watch her daughter’s story and take action to ensure that the U.S. government creates legally enforceable detention standards and implements cost effective alternatives to detention.
Ali: An HIV+ Man Suffers in Detention
Ali, a Pakistani-born, HIV+ gay man, had been living in New York City for 30 years with a Green Card. He spent more than a year suffering in immigrant detention and fought to get the medicine he needed to survive. He says, “There’s no benefit for HIV+ or AIDS people. If you die in your room they don’t care.” Watch Ali’s story and take action to ensure that the U.S. government creates legally enforceable detention standards and implements cost effective alternatives to detention.
Betsy DeWitt Acquista: Tearing a Family Apart
Betsy, a U.S. citizen, fell in love with a long-time legal resident from Italy and they started a family. When her husband was put in immigrant detention, she didn’t realize that soon her life would be turned upside down and he’d be deported back to Italy. Reflecting on her experience, she says “When these laws were initially passed back in 1996 they were passed to protect people… yet the people that are being deported are fathers and mothers.” Watch Betsy’s story and take action to ensure that the U.S. government restores the ability of judges to consider individual circumstances so everyone receives a fair day in court.
Anselm Ifill: Army Man Ordered Deported
Anslem Ifill lived in the U.S. for 25 years—it is his home. So much so that he put his own life at risk to serve the country for eight years with the Army. Because of this ultimate sacrifice, he can’t believe the unimaginable will happen. He asks, “How can you deport individuals who risk their lives for the very beliefs and freedoms of this country?” Watch Anselm’s story and take action to ensure that the U.S. government restores the ability of judges to consider individual circumstances so everyone receives a fair day in court.
A Surprise Visit
Sarah (name changed) is a legal permanent resident who came to the U.S. when she was 7. At the age of 29, with two young citizen children in her care, she was shocked to hear that she would be exiled for life while her family would be in the states forever. She says about her case, “I just felt like I was in the twilight zone, this is a bad, bad dream and something has to change.” Watch Sarah’s story and take action to ensure that the U.S. government restores the ability of judges to consider individual circumstances so everyone receives a fair day in court.
You can stop the erosion of our fundamental human rights
Tell Congress to restore fairness right now
Stand with your fellow Americans who have already emailed.
More Ways to Get Involved
-
Host a screening
Mobilize others to take action by screening the "Restore Fairness" video using our downloadable screening guide.
-
Tell-a-friend
Use your networks, like email, Twitter and Facebook, to spread the word online.
-
Write a letter to the editor
Tell your local newspapers that the U.S. government needs to restore due process and fairness back to our immigration system.
-
Become an Ally
Pledge your support by signing on to the campaign and becoming an active participant in the movement.
