Many have heard of the case of Farouk Abdel-Muhti, a stateless Palestinian from New York who was held in detention for two years (much of that in New Jersey) as he continued to struggle against the unjust immigration persecution that held him there. Farouk's victory was a sign that despite the power of the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE, formerly the INS) and the US government, with struggle and persistence, justice cannot be denied forever.
There is currently another Palestinian detainee, Mr. Salim Yassir, who has been held in the Elizabeth detention center since 2000. As a Palestinian, he cannot be deported to Gaza, his home in Palestine, and nearly fifteen other countries have refused to accept his deportation from the US - and thus he remains in the prison of immigration detention. He is demanding to be free here in the US or to return to Gaza.
YOUR HELP IS NEEDED!
Many organizations and community initiatives are supporting Salim Yassir. For example, the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee-NJ has, in addition to contacting officials and senators, found him an employment/shelter sponsor in order to satisfy the judge's requirement that he have such a sponsor in order to be released.
Salim Yassir's hearing took place in Philadelphia on July 15, and the judge is expected to render his ruling in the next few weeks.
New Jersey Solidarity - Activists for the Liberation of Palestine calls upon all activists and community members to support Salim Yassir in this important struggle for freedom and against the racist and unjust policies of detention that have been used to terrorize and repress immigrant communities, including Palestinian and Arab communities, throughout the United States. Just as this case is connected to Farouk Abdel-Muhti's case, it is connected to the thousands of other immigrant detainees facing struggles for their liberty and their lives. In Montreal, dozens of Palestinian refugees continue to face deportation, victims of Canada's racist immigration policies. There, the community has organized to defend and support these refugees in their struggle, and the same is needed here.
Please take the actions listed below!
FREE SALIM YASSIR!
JUSTICE FOR PALESTINIANS!
NO ONE IS ILLEGAL!
1) Write a letter to Salim in detention and let him know that he is not forgotten - Mr. Salim Yassir A 78 820 978 - Elizabeth Detention Center, 625 Evans Street, Elizabeth, NJ 07201.
(2) Write a letter to Senator Corzine's office - Newark District Office, 1 Gateway Center, 11th Floor, Newark, NJ 07102 Attn: Grievances/Immigrants' Rights - and tell him to take a stand for Salim Yassir's - and all immigrants' and refugees' - rights.
(3) MOST IMPORTANTLY!!! Write a letter to US ICE HQPDU (formerly INS - Headquarters Post-Order Detention Unit) the branch of the agency responsible for holding Salim in jail. Release is within their discretion and public pressure works. Hold your government accountable. Corrections Corporation of America charges $155 per day to house Salim and other indefinite detainees like him.
Feel free to use the sample letter below provided by Salim Yassir's legal team or to write your own letter calling for Salim's release. John Tsoukaris signs the decisions to continue detention. Michael Garcia is the Head of Detention and Removal. Thank you.
SAMPLE LETTER:
----------------------------------------
John Tsoukaris
United States Department of Justice
US-ICE Headquarters
Post-Order Detention Unit
801 I Street NW, Suite 900
Washington, DC 20536
RE: YASSIR, Salim, A78 820 978
Dear Mr. Tsoukaris:
I am writing on behalf of Mr. Salim Yassir who has been detained for four years at the Elizabeth Detention Center in New Jersey. I strongly believe that Mr. Yassir should be released immediately from the detention center, into the care and supervision of his sponsors.
Mr. Yassir has been awaiting deportation since his arrival in the United States in 2000, yet there is no possibility of removal since both Israel and the PLO have confirmed in writing that, pursuant to the Oslo Accords, Mr. Yassir is ineligible for repatriation into the territories or Israel proper.
Mr. Yassir is an asylum seeker who has maintained an impeccable record of behavior while in detention. He has also provided the government with two sponsors who will provide him with housing, job training/assistance, and food. In addition, these sponsors have stated that they will take responsibility to ensure that Mr. Yassir obeys any terms of supervised release.
Mr. Yassir's continued detention costs taxpayers $155.00 per day, as estimated by the government. His detention is a waste of taxpayer money, particularly since Mr. Yassir presents no danger to society and has provided suitable alternatives to detention, through his sponsors.
Finally, Mr. Yassir has been detained for four years in a facility that was intended for short-term detentions. There are no outdoor areas, so Mr. Yassir has not seen the light of day since 2000.
Please release Mr. Salim Yassir from the Elizabeth Detention Center.
Sincerely,
___________
New Jersey Solidarity-Activists for the Liberation of Palestine
http://www.newjerseysolidarity.org/
info@newjerseysolidarity.org
(973)954-2521
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