Bella Update V

[lala_rawraw]

Hi all:

I wanted to give you an update on Bella. For those of you not following the drama of detainment without charge, please read this: http://www.rawstory.com/news/2006/Operation_Return_to_S...

There are also this thread: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...
and this thread: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=2288069

Update:
She is still being held, over a month now, no charges. She is at Monroe, which is not an immigration detention facility. It is a criminal facility. She has still gotten only 1 of her 4 heart medications and is not doing well. The family spent the weekend near the facility in order to be able to visit her.

Per my last update, she finally got a hearing for Oct, 16. So we wait. That said, there is another new twist in this. It appears that ICE is thinking of moving her to Atlanta, GA (along with some other women), before her hearing. I don't know why, so I cannot explain this madness. But if they move her out of state, then she will have to get a new attorney and the family will either have to move near the area or visit her only once a month. And if they move her to Atlanta, there is no word on when she will be given another hearing. So the goal now is to stop the move by putting pressure on local elected officials and members of Congress, as well as ICE and the MSM to cover this.

She tells us that there are women in there who are being deported who have kids. One woman in particular, who as a legal resident was busted with pot when she was younger. It was roughly twenty years ago, but she was scooped up in this and is being deported to Costa Rica, while her kids have been put into foster homes. Perhaps this is a new version of the Handmaiden's tale, I simply don't know. But to take the children, as though they had a right, and deport a legal resident, seems a bit like selective adoption. I may just be tired, but I cannot make sense of this.

Please, I beg you, please fight for these detainees who are American residents, some spending their entire life in this country, who are being picked up without charge, detained without charge, denied medical treatment, tormented, and having their children stolen from them. And for all of this supposed deportation, where the hell are the records of people being actually deported? I mean are we just saying we are going to deport them, but are actually stuffing them in detention facilities?

We must fight for these people, for Bella, or all of them. If we do not, who will fight for us, should it ever come to our own future nightmare?

--

Please cross post wherever you have additional accounts. Thank you!!!

[wakeme2008]

1. kick and nom nt

[april]

2. the links dont work

[lukery]

7. here is the Raw link

http://www.rawstory.com/news/2006/Operation_Return_to_Sender_Stumbles_0928.html

[Blackhatjack]

3. Public Notice & Scrutiny Is The Only Effective Tool At THis Point....

....she is in the clutches of unbridled power and decisionmaking. The only check on that power is public scrutiny and information dissemination.

K & R

.... and you are right. Next it could be any one of us.

[suffragette]

4. I'll continue to share this as much as I can

to get the word out.
My thoughts are with you and your cousin.
As I read your post, I kept thinking back to how hard we tried to make people aware of the dangers of the passage of REAL ID, with its hateful sections against immigrants. I wonder how much of what is going on is connected to its passage.

[shance]

5. Thank you for the update Larissa.

Keep us posted and let us know how we can better get the word out.

[druidity33]

6. damn...

what can i say?

i've talked it up, and sent out what i could...

i am saying prayers for you and yours.

keep us informed.

k and r

[DemReadingDU]

8. K&R

saying prayers for Bella

[lala_rawraw]

9. fuck...

i am gonna write about this tonight... but they fucking plucked her... ICE took her this evening. they won't tell us where, they won't tell her where, they won't tell her attorney where. she was allowed a call, she phoned her mother to say that she was being moved... she said she does not know when next she will speak with us... wtf is this shit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[lukery]

14. i'm so sorry.

hugs.

[Kurovski]

10. Thank you for the update.

I'm heartsick over the spiral of ugliness that our nation finds herself in.

[Ellipsis]

11. KEEP THIS KICKED!

Vote this up!


I am so sorry lala.

[lala_rawraw]

12. they won;t tell anyone where?????

is this not fucking kidnapping???????????????????????????????????? omg, my family is falling apart and i don't know what to do... what the hell is going on in this country? where the hell could they be taking her? if Atlanta, then fine, tell us!!! but why before the fucking court date??? omg, pardon my swearing... i am going to have to simply not post for the rest of the night... i will only curse, and that is not remotely productive.

[Kurovski]

15. Have you contacted kieth Olbermann, or any other reporters with

shows? I honestly don't know what to do other than see if you can get some big guns in on this.

Contacting reps can only do so much, but have you spoken face to face with any of them? Could you?

Even 20/20 or Dateline might be interested in this at this point.

I hate to see you suffering like this. Please push to see if you can get this story into large media outlets.

Have you ever been on Randi Rhodes program? why not ask if she'd speak with you on the topic on-air. I'll bet you anything randi would take this on after you give her the info.


I think it would also help with the incredible stress on you to get onto programs and discuss this. A person in your circumstance needs to be keeping an even keel. :hug:

[Ellipsis]

17. Kurvoski is right!

I just went for a walk.

You need to collect yourself and stay calm.

I can not believe that people here on this forum with all the connections they have can not help on this.

[Kurovski]

18. I think it might be time for those who can help to contact

Larisa and offer a hand.

This situation is way out of control.

Please, someone with some connections see if you can't get the ball rolling on this. Think about it.

Thank you.

[autorank]

13. Welcome to post-democratic America. KR

I've heard tales of this sort of thing in the past but it was always about some small town run by a tin horn tyrant. Now this is happening in broad day light by the Federal government. This is toally unacceptable.

I'm outraged as a citizen.

Which of us is next?

[mmonk]

16. Thanks for the update.

I will still fight all this. I'm still waiting on word from my congressman.

[Kurovski]

19. Maybe Stephanie can carry a segment on her show

and interview Larisa?

[mmonk]

21. There's a thought.

[Kurovski]

26. So who around here talks to Steph a lot?

She's a DUer, isn't she? Who here can speak to her?

Is her DU name open? Or is it under wraps?

[Kurovski]

20. Please don't fail to recommend this thread.

Let's get it to the top of the page.

[Ellipsis]

24. Yes, please.

[Marie26]

22. I'm so sorry

Does she have an attorney in Georgia? If she asks for an attorney in Atlanta, they can't hold the hearing w/o one, and they can't deport her w/o first having a hearing before an immigration ALJ. There are a number of immigration attorneys in Atlanta that specialize in this work. Where is Monroe at? Have you considered contacting the local media? The local newspaper in NC has been running a series on unfairly deported immigrants. I'm going to PM you w/some more info - I might know someone who can help.

[Kurovski]

27. Marie26, bless you and thank you for stepping up!

:hug:

[ancient_nomad]

30. KnR

Oh, Marie26! Thank you soooooo much. You are truly an answer to prayers.

[mmonk]

33. Which paper? I was considering contacting the News & Observer.

[Marie26]

40. Please do

I was thinking of the Charlotte Observer - probably the more media outlets we can contact, the better.

[mmonk]

41. Thanks

I wanted to make sure. The more, the better indeed.

[nam78_two]

23. Thanks for the update-my prayers are with your cousin

This is insane that someone guilty of absolutely nothing is being held like this....

[FormerOstrich]

25. Not nearly enough but

a :kick: and a recommend....

[Kurovski]

28. It's a terrific move nonetheless.

:-) I think I'll kick too! :kick:

[ancient_nomad]

29. Kick

LaLa's...I am so sorry, and very angry!! What the hell is happening in our country? I wish I knew someone important to be able to do something to help. The best I can do right now is pray for you, Bella, and your family. God Bless Us All.

Please, can't someone with connections help out here?





:kick:

[Kurovski]

31. Kick(nt)

[ninkasi]

32. This is outrageous

Many of our ancestors came to this country to escape dictatorships and oppressive regimes, and now we find ourselves living in the kind of country they fled. My thoughts go out to you, and to Bella.

[Ellipsis]

34. kick

[GliderGuider]

35. K&R

It's the least I can do.

And I'd like to suggest Other Lands Have Dreams by Kathy Kelly for a personal insight on conditions in your women's prisons.
(http://vitw.org/archives/424)

[Land Shark]

36. I spoke with lala tonight, and she is appropriately very concerned

but is also going to get some sleep and continue to try to find out what's happening in the morning.

[myrna minx]

39. Thank you for the update. This is appalling. n/t

[Ellipsis]

37. kick

[civildisoBDence]

38. Isn't this in Broward County?

Notorious for using rubber bullets on protesters...then laughing about it afterwards.

Here's the story on ABC News

Here's a video of the cops laughing it up

I'm afraid that's what you're up against, Larissa.

Best wishes...

Newsprism

[lala_rawraw]

42. Update here

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x2369112

need to sleep now... been up all night. thank you guys!!

[nam78_two]

43. Good luck Larissa

I really hope someone can get this to Keith Olbermann.....that would give it a lot of visibility and hopefully outrage a lot of people...

[bluescribbler]

44. Have you contacted Ted Kennedy?

Immigration issues are one of his top concerns. I have a friend who is a Greek native. While studying in England, she met a nice young Dane. They married, and when he got a job in the States, she of course came with him. He had a work visa, she had a family visa. Their first daughter was born in California. Their second daughter was born in Texas. Not long after they moved to Massachusetts, he was diagnosed with stage IV cancer. Docs gave him 6 months. Now she was in trouble. If her husband died, she would be deported. Never mind that her two daughters were natural born US citizens. She contacted Senator Kennedy, and he got her onto a fast track for permanent residency. Her husband passed away this past summer, leaving her with daughters 6 and 4 years old. Of course, she still misses him terribly, and faces years of being a single mother. But, at least, she doesn't have to worry about deportation.

[Fleshdancer]

45. I read every update and yet I'm shocked every time

I haven't responded in the past only because I have no idea how to respond to this insanity. It's difficult to deal with the fact that this is occuring here.

A book or a movie needs to be made to tell this story.