There is a "family" detention center at Dilley for asylum seekers that houses only women and children. These are immigrants mostly from Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala who are trying to escape gangs that are in control of their hometowns and have targeted them and their children for various reasons. When they reach the U.S., they are being rounded up and detained (here is a LA Times article about the center: "Immigrant families in detention: A look inside one holding center". Recently it's gotten a bit of media and political attention. Here is an article about the group I went with, although I reject the bit that the transactional lawyers didn't know asylum jargon(!): Immigrant lawyers handling a border surge: 'This is really an emergency room situation'). So, I volunteered there last week, mostly hearing people's stories to see if they will be able to pass a credible fear hearing -- this is different from an asylum hearing, but is basically the first step in a long road to asylum or withholding of removal.
ディリーには、母子のための拘置所があります。ほとんどの人はホンジュラス、エルサルバドル、グアテマラ出身で、国を完全コントロールする暴力団にターゲットされ、子供と一緒に、母国を離れ、アメリカに逃げてしまうのです。アメリカにやっと着いたっと思いきや、逮捕せれて犯人扱いされてしまいます。（拘置所の状況に関する記事が上のリンクからアクセスできます（英語ですけど）が、ひどいです。）。とゆうわけで、一週間かけてディリーで務めさせていただきました。ほとんどの私がやった活動は、移民局の方と自国の話しをするときの話し方などの練習やアドバイスでした。単純のことのようですが、とても大事なことです。信憑性のある話かどうかを評価されるため移民局のかたと面談をし、嘘や難民申請をしても、認められない話であろうと判断されたら、国に帰させられてしまいます。初めて自分の話を人に言うとゆう怖さや言葉の壁や心の傷など、いろんな理由で、女性がうまく自分の話を伝えられないのですが、国に戻るとレープされたり、殺されることもあるので、何とか助けたいことです。拘置所から出ても、難民申請がまだ始まったばかりです。認められるまでは長い長い道のりです。
Now, I am honestly not the most lenient in my views on immigration. However, I do not believe it is correct to lock up women and children asylum seekers. These women and children have been through so much in their own hometowns, as well as even more hardships, including rape and exploitation, on the way here. Additionally, I have found that most asylum seekers feel emotional attachment to the places they are from, and I honestly believe that if conditions weren't horrible in their respect countries of origin they would be happiest in those countries.
Well, I started writing this when I arrived in Dilley two weeks ago. My last day there was International Justice Day. I didn't actually know about International Justice Day, but it seemed so perfect to learn about it while in Dilley. Happy Belated International Justice Day, y'all.
サンフランシスコに戻る日は国際ジャスティス・ディーでした。国際ジャスティス・ディーは何なのか全く知らなかったけれど、ディリーで初めて知ったってとても運命的だと思います。
#JusticeMatters
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