Photo: stltoday.com
DHS Detention System Traps Asylum Seekers, Leaving Families in Despair
Cielo, an asylum seeker, endured seven months in immigration detention, revealing the heartbreaking realities of family separation and the inefficacy of the Executive Office for Immigration Review.
- Cielo spent seven months at Florence Correctional Center, where U.S. Customs and Border Protection held him under harsh conditions, allowing only no-contact visits with his family.
- After his release, Cielo expressed that the experience felt like dying slowly, highlighting the emotional toll of immigration detention on families separated by the process.
- Cielos ordeal underscores the challenges faced by asylum seekers in navigating immigration law, including securing a work permit while fearing potential deportation due to prior criminal record.
Why It Matters
The story illustrates the emotional and psychological impact of the U.S. immigration system on families, emphasizing the urgent need for reform in immigration law and better treatment of asylum seekers. As the country grapples with immigration policy, stories like Cielos reveal the human cost behind bureaucratic processes.