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48 HOURS AT EL REFUGIO: A HAVEN FOR FAMILIES OF ICE DETAINEES 

[AMBI RAIN FALLING, ARRIVING AT HOUSE – KNOCKING ON DOOR]

JULIETA MARTINELLI: IT’S JUST PAST 8AM ON A RAINY SATURDAY MORNING IN LATE AUGUST. WE’RE AT THE BACK DOOR OF A LARGE WHITE HOME WITH DARK GREEN SHUTTERS, BORDERED BY A MANICURED YARD WITH FLOWERS.

SHANNON HEFFERNAN AND JULIETA MARTINELLI:  HI. GOOD MORNING. HI. GOOD MORNING.

JULIETA MARTINELLI: I’M WITH REPORTER SHANNON HEFFERNAN OF THE MARSHALL PROJECT, THE NONPROFIT NEWS ORGANIZATION COVERING THE U.S. CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. I’LL BE REPORTING WITH HER FOR THE NEXT TWO DAYS, HERE IN SOUTHWEST GEORGIA.

JULIETA MARTINELLI: SORRY, THE RAIN GOT US.

MARYLIN: YEAH, I SEE [LAUGHTER]

JULIETA MARTINELLI: A WOMAN WITH LONG GRAYISH WHITE HAIR NAMED MARILYN OPENS THE DOOR FOR US. WE WALK DIRECTLY INTO AN AIRY KITCHEN, WHERE SHE AND FOUR OTHER WOMEN HUDDLE AROUND A KITCHEN ISLAND. ONCE INTRODUCTIONS ARE MADE, THEY GET BACK TO BUSINESS.

MARYLIN: EVERYBODY GOT THEIR ID? (CHORUS) YES.

[COFFEE BREWING AMBI]

JULIETA MARTINELLI: THE SMELL OF BREWING COFFEE PERMEATES THE AIR.

KATIE: I HAD A DREAM LAST NIGHT THAT I PULLED OUT MY ID AND IT WAS LIKE A CUT IN HALF AND EVERYTHING WAS LIKE, I’M NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET IN. IT’S MY FIRST TIME, SO….[LAUGHTER]

JULIETA MARTINELLI: THAT’S KATIE, A SANDY BLONDE WITH A SOFT LAUGH. ANOTHER WOMAN, HER NAME IS AMY, CUTS IN–

AMY: NO, I HAD TO CHECK LIKE 40 TIMES. I WAS LIKE, I KNOW IT’S GONE. MY ID IS GONE. I NEVER MOVE IT, BUT IT’S GONE. [MORE LAUGHTER]

JULIETA MARTINELLI: IT’S CLEAR THIS KIND OF ODDLY SPECIFIC ANXIETY DREAM IS SHARED AMONGST THE WOMEN.

THAT’S BECAUSE THESE FIVE PEOPLE STANDING AROUND THE KITCHEN TODAY, ARE ALL VOLUNTEERS AT THIS HOME. AND THIS IS NOT A REGULAR HOUSE. IT’S A HOSPITALITY HOUSE CALLED EL REFUGIO, THE REFUGE IN SPANISH. THE HOME IS OPEN ON WEEKENDS, YEAR ROUND. IT PROVIDES A FREE PLACE TO EAT, REST, AND SLEEP FOR FAMILIES WHO TRAVEL LONG HOURS TO VISIT LOVED ONES AT A NEARBY IMMIGRATION DETENTION CENTER, NESTLED DEEP IN THIS RURAL PART OF THE STATE. AND, AS WE SOON LEARN, THE DREAMS OF LOST OR CUT IDS ARE REALLY NOT SO RANDOM.

THEY’RE GETTING READY TO GET INSIDE THE STEWART IMMIGRATION DETENTION CENTER TO VISIT WITH PEOPLE IN ICE CUSTODY.

AMY: YOU’VE BEEN LIKE, PUT IN THIS PLACE WHERE NOBODY CAN SEE YOU AND  IT’S JUST NICE IF SOMEBODY JUST RECOGNIZES YOU AS LIKE A HUMAN

JULIETA MARTINELLI: THAT’S AMY AGAIN.

AMY: AND I DON’T KNOW, OUR COUNTRY’S LIKE BEEN DEHUMANIZING ALL THESE PEOPLE AND JUST TO HEAR THEIR STORY, JUST BE LIKE, I SEE YOU.

JULIETA MARTINELLI: JUST TWO MILES AWAY FROM EL REFUGIO – DOWN NARROW ROADS SURROUNDED BY A FOREST OF GREEN –  SITS ONE OF THE LARGEST IMMIGRATION DETENTION CENTERS IN THE COUNTRY, ON AVERAGE HOUSING AROUND 2000 PEOPLE IN CUSTODY – MORE PEOPLE THAN IT’S BUILT TO ACCOMMODATE.  DESPITE ITS MASSIVE SIZE, IT’S A DETENTION CENTER THAT – UNLESS YOU’RE IN THE SOUTH –  YOU ARE LESS LIKELY TO HAVE HEARD ABOUT, AS YOU PROBABLY HAVE OTHERS ON THE NEWS. ESPECIALLY LATELY —

ARCHIVAL: …ANTI ICE PROTESTS OUTSIDE LA’S METROPOLITAN DETENTION CENTER HAVE BECOME A FLASHPOINT

ARCHIVAL: …BREAKING NEWS PROTESTORS GATHERED OUTSIDE DETENTION CENTER IN CHICAGO WHERE HUNDREDS OF MIGRANTS ARE BEING HELD…

ARCHIVAL: HERE IN OREGON…RIGHT OUTSIDE THE CITY HALL SIGN AND ON THE SIDEWALK PROTESTING THE POSSIBILITY OF THIS ICE FACILITY….

JULIETA MARTINELLI: THERE ARE FEWER DEMONSTRATIONS OUT HERE OR CLASHES BETWEEN PROTESTORS AND ICE. THERE IS SIMPLY A FADING RURAL TOWN IN SOUTHWEST GEORGIA.THERE ARE NO GROCERY STORES, NO PLACE FOR VISITORS TO STAY THE NIGHT, AND LESS THAN 1000 RESIDENTS IN THE WHOLE TOWN.

THAT’S ONE REASON THE VOLUNTEERS ARE SO EAGER TO GO INSIDE – TO KEEP AN EYE ON WHAT’S HAPPENING WITH DETAINEES INSIDE STEWART. AND, TO SHARE A BIT OF HUMAN WARMTH.

[AMBI, CHATTERING] ALL RIGHT. THANKS AGAIN YOU GUYS. SEE YOU [GOODBYES]

JULIETA MARTINELLI: THE VOLUNTEERS SHUFFLE OUT OF THE HOUSE. IT’S 8:15 AND VISITATIONS ARE ALREADY STARTING.

VOLUNTEER: OH, IT’S, OH, I LIKE RAINING. OH, AND I DON’T NEED TO HAVE AN UMBRELLA, A JACKET, NOTHING. JUST PURE VIBES [LAUGHTER]

JULIETA MARTINELLI: THEY RUN OUT TO THE BACK DOOR, DOWN A LONG WOODEN RAMP, PAST A COLOSSAL PEAR TREE OVERFLOWING WITH RIPE FRUIT, AND TO THEIR CARS, PARKED IN A GRAVEL DRIVEWAY.

[AMBI, GETTING IN THE CAR, CHATTERING] GOOD LUCK. BYE. [WOMEN] BYE!

JULIETA MARTINELLI: WE’RE GOING TO SPEND THE NEXT 48 HOURS INSIDE EL REFUGIO, WITH THE FAMILIES THAT PASS THROUGH HERE AND THE VOLUNTEERS THAT RUN THIS HOSPITALITY HOUSE – TO LEARN HOW THIS PLACE IS HANDLING, AND ADAPTING, TO THE ONSLAUGHT OF IMMIGRATION ARRESTS IN THE SECOND TRUMP TERM. AND TO HEAR DIRECTLY FROM THE FAMILIES OF THOSE WHO’VE BEEN GOTTEN SWEPT UP IN THE RAIDS.

MARIA HINOJOSA: WELCOME TO LATINOUSA, I’M MARIA HINOJOSA. TODAY…WE TRAVEL DOWN TO SOUTH GEORGIA, TO SPEND 48 HOURS AT EL REFUGIO – A HOSPITALITY HOUSE THAT SERVES AS A REFUGE FOR THOSE HOPING TO VISIT LOVED ONES AT ONE OF THE COUNTRY’S LARGEST IMMIGRATION DETENTION CENTERS. WE MEET FAMILIES WHO’VE MADE LONG JOURNEYS HOPING TO GET A VISITATION, AND THE VOLUNTEERS HELPING THEM NAVIGATE THE SYSTEM.

TODAY’S EPISODE IS A COLLABORATION BETWEEN LATINOUSA, FUTURO INVESTIGATES AND THE MARSHALL PROJECT. SENIOR PRODUCER JULIETA MARTINELLI TRAVELED TO STEWART COUNTY, GEORGIA WITH REPORTER SHANNON HEFFERNAN TO REPORT THIS STORY. JULIETA CONTINUES FROM HERE.

AND JUST A HEADS UP DEAR LISTENER, THIS STORY CONTAINS MENTIONS OF SUICIDE, SO TAKE CARE WHILE LISTENING.

JULIETA MARTINELLI: BACK INSIDE EL REFUGIO THINGS ARE STILL QUIET. MARILYN, THE WOMAN WHO OPENED THE DOOR FOR US, HAS STAYED BEHIND TO PREPARE FOR THE DAY’S VISITORS. MARYLIN IS THE COORDINATOR THIS WEEKEND.

MARYLIN:  HERE IS SOME PEACH BREAD THAT I BROUGHT FOR OUR BREAKFAST AND THEN HALOS AND THE GRAPES AND THE BREAD CAME OUT OF THE REFRIGERATOR AND THE ORANGE JUICE.

MARYLIN TAKES NOTE OF FOOD IN THE FRIDGE AND THEN THE PANTRY. SHE MAKES PLANS FOR LUNCH, BREAKFAST AND DINNER. AS SHE OPENS CABINETS, I NOTICE ONE ITEM THAT IS IN LARGE SUPPLY-

MARYLIN:  BAKE BEANS, PORK BEANS, BLACK BEANS, UH, MORE DIFFERENT TYPES OF PENTO BEANS. YEAH. VEGETARIAN BEANS. VEGETARIAN BEANS. YEAH. WE GOT BIG PENTO BEANS.

JULIETA MARTINELLI: IT’S ALMOST COMICAL..

MARYLIN: OH, LOOK AT THE [LAUGHTER], YOU KNOW PEOPLE ARE SO KIND AND THEY DONATE WHAT THEY IMAGINE COULD BE USEFUL.

JULIETA MARTINELLI: WHILE STEWART DETENTION DOESN’T PUBLISH THEIR DEMOGRAPHICS, REPORTS SHOW THE MAJORITY OF DETAINEES ARE LATINOS. THEIR PRESENCE HAS EVEN SHIFTED THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF THIS RURAL AREA. A 2016 ANALYSIS OF CENSUS DATA BY PEW RESEARCH CENTER CLAIMED THAT STEWART COUNTY SAW THE LARGEST GROWTH IN LATINO POPULATION IN AMERICA AND NOTED THE DETENTION CENTER WAS LIKELY THE REASON. AND LATINOS, WELL, A LOT OF US DO LOVE BEANS. [READ WITH HUMOR]

MARYLIN: IN THIS CABINET WE HAVE LOTS OF DIFFERENT TEAS. WE HAVE SOME HONEY, SOME COFFEE, BREAKFAST CEREALS…

JULIETA MARTINELLI: WHILE THEY ACCEPT NON-PERISHABLE DONATIONS LIKE THESE, VOLUNTEERS DO STILL NEED TO SHOP FOR FRESH FOOD EVERY WEEKEND. AND, BECAUSE THERE ARE NO GROCERY STORES IN LUMPKIN, MARILYN AND THE VOLUNTEERS LUG GROCERIES DOWN FROM ATLANTA, WHERE THEY LIVE, SEVERAL HOURS NORTH. IT’S BECOME JUST PART OF THE ROUTINE.

MARYLIN:  THE HOUSE HAS BEEN OPERATED FOR 15 YEARS. WOW. AND THEN PRIOR TO THAT, UM, THERE WERE GROUP VISITATIONS THAT WERE ORGANIZED A FEW TIMES A YEAR. SO I DID SOME OF THOSE.

JULIETA MARTINELLI: STEWART WAS FIRST OPENED IN 2006 BY CORE CIVIC, THEN KNOWN AS CORRECTIONS CORPORATION OF AMERICA. MARILYN SAID AFTER IT OPENED, SHE AND OTHER VOLUNTEERS FROM AN ADVOCACY GROUP STARTED COMING DOWN TO VISIT DETAINEES. THIS WAS AROUND THE TIME THAT ICE ENFORCEMENT RAMPED UP IN THE STATE. BY 2011, STEWART WAS CONSIDERED THE LARGEST AND BUSIEST IMMIGRATION DETENTION CENTER IN THE NATION. THE FOLLOWING YEAR, STEWART WAS SUED BY THE ACLU OF GA IN A FILING THAT SAID STEWART HAD PROVEN “INCAPABLE OF PROTECTING THE BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS OF IMMIGRANTS UNDER ITS CARE.” THE REPORT CITED A NUMBER OF CLAIMS RELATING TO ABUSE, INHUMANE CONDITIONS, AND FAILURE TO MEET MEDICAL AND LEGAL STANDARDS.

AND THEN, THERE WAS THE LOCATION. MARLYIN SAYS DRIVING DOWN TO LUMPKIN FOR VISITATIONS MADE ADVOCATES REALIZE HOW CHALLENGING THIS DETENTION CENTER’S GEOGRAPHIC ISOLATION WAS FOR VISITING FAMILIES

MARYLIN: SO THAT WAS REALLY THE IMPETUS FOR STARTING THIS WORK, KNOWING THAT BY GIVING PEOPLE A PLACE TO STAY OVER A SATURDAY NIGHT, WE COULD REALLY SERVE PEOPLE’S NEEDS.

JULIETA MARTINELLI: THAT’S WHY, AROUND 15 YEARS AGO, THE FIRST HOSPITALITY HOUSE IN LUMPKIN WAS OPENED. IT WAS ORIGINALLY ESTABLISHED BY AN IMMIGRANTS RIGHTS NONPROFIT CALLED ALTERNA. MARYLIN WAS PART OF IT.

BY 2012, EL REFUGIO BECAME ITS OWN NON-PROFIT, AND A GROUP OF FOUNDING MEMBERS, INCLUDING MARYLIN, TOOK OVER MANAGING THE HOUSE. THEY WERE ORIGINALLY AT A SMALLER HOUSE. OVER THE FOLLOWING YEARS, VISITORS AT EL REFUGIO CONTINUED TO GROW. IN 2018, THEY MOVED OVER TO THIS HOUSE, WHERE WE ARE TODAY.

AND, CRAZY STORY, BUT THIS BIGGER, NICER PLACE WAS ACTUALLY DONATED BY COMEDIAN SAMANTHA BEE. IT WAS PART OF HER TBS SHOW’S HOLIDAY SPECIAL CALLED “CHRISTMAS ON ICE” – THE SHOW HEAVILY CRITICIZED THE FIRST TRUMP ADMINISTRATION’S IMMIGRATION POLICIES AND HIGHLIGHTED THE WORK OF EL REFUGIO.

MARYLIN FINISHES IN THE KITCHEN AND WALKS US OVER TO A LIVING ROOM SLASH WAITING AREA.

SHE ADJUSTS THE PILLOWS ON A COMFORTABLE COUCH. I SEE ART ON THE WALLS. BOOKS AND BOARD GAMES ON THE SHELVES. SHE TALKS AS SHE CONTINUES HER ROUTINE.

MARYLIN:  I MEAN, EVERY WEEKEND THAT I COME DOWN HERE, I PLAY OUT DIFFERENT SCENARIOS IN MY MIND ABOUT WHAT COULD POSSIBLY HAPPEN, BUT YEAH.

SHANNON HEFFERNAN: HAS IT FELT LIKE THAT’S GOTTEN MORE INTENSE AS OF LATE?

JULIETA MARTINELLI: THAT’S MARSHALL PROJECT REPORTER, SHANNON.

MARYLIN: OH, SURE. SURE.

JULIETA MARTINELLI: AS WE TALK, MARYLIN GUIDES US TO A LARGE MAP ON A WALL.

MARYLIN:  OKAY, SO TELL US, HERE’S OUR MAP …WE INVITE PEOPLE TO, UM, INDICATE WHERE THEY’RE FROM, SO.

JULIETA MARTINELLI: OH WOW.

MARYLIN: YEAH, SO YOU CAN SEE, LOOK AT THIS, IT’S EVERYWHERE.

SO THIS, THIS IS BOTH VOLUNTEERS AND GUESTS WHO COME TO THE HOUSE.

JULIETA MARTINELLI: CAN YOU DESCRIBE THE CONCENTRATION OF THE PINS?

MARYLIN: A WHOLE LOT OF PINS IN THE SOUTHEAST UNITED STATES. IN MEXICO AND THROUGH CENTRAL AMERICA. UH, QUITE A FEW. COLOMBIA, VENEZUELA, ECUADOR, A SMATTERING OF PENS ACROSS AFRICA AND A FEW ACROSS EUROPE. SEVERAL IN ASIA, A COUPLE IN PAKISTAN, SEVERAL IN INDIA. 1, 2, 3, 4 IN IRAN. UH, SOME FROM, UH, ISRAEL, PALESTINE. SEVERAL FROM AUSTRALIA. YEAH SO…

JULIETA MARTINELLI: SEEING IT LIKE THIS…IT’S REALLY KIND OF MIND BLOWING. PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD HAVE PASSED THROUGH THIS HOUSE — BECAUSE PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD HAVE BEEN SENT DOWN HERE INTO ICE DETENTION.

IN LESS THAN A YEAR, THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAS INCREASED THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE DETAINED IN ICE FACILITIES BY ALMOST 50%. IN FACT, THE FIRST WEEK OF NOVEMBER BROKE A RECORD – WITH MORE THAN 66,000 PEOPLE IN ICE CUSTODY NATIONWIDE. MORE THAN ANY TIME IN AMERICAN HISTORY – EVER.

AND REALLY, THAT’S WHY WE’RE HERE. AS MORE AND MORE PEOPLE GET TAKEN INTO ICE CUSTODY, AND MOVED INTO MASSIVE DETENTION CENTERS ISOLATED IN RURAL AREAS LIKE STEWART, IT BECOMES EVEN HARDER TO KNOW WHAT PEOPLE ARE GOING THROUGH INSIDE.

A HOSPITALITY HOUSE LIKE THIS SERVE ANOTHER IMPORTANT ROLE – A COMMON PLACE FOR FAMILY MEMBERS OF DETAINED INDIVIDUALS TO GATHER AND SHARE INFORMATION.

IT IS HARD TO KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE TO EXPECT THIS WEEKEND. MARILYN SAYS THAT YOU NEVER REALLY QUITE KNOW. JUST IN CASE THOUGH, THEY’VE PREPARED ALL THE ROOMS. WE PASS THROUGH A DINING ROOM WITH ONE OF THE LARGEST TABLES I’VE EVER SEEN. MARYLIN SAYS MOST PEOPLE CONGREGATE HERE THROUGHOUT THE DAY. THERE ARE SEVERAL BEDROOMS WITH MULTIPLE BEDS, ALONG TWO FLOORS. EVERYWHERE, THERE IS COLORFUL ART WITH ENCOURAGING MESSAGES- SOME OF IT WAS MADE INSIDE STEWART BY PEOPLE IN CUSTODY, MARYLIN TELLS US.

IT’S A LIVELY, HAPPY PLACE.

BROOKE:  HI. I CAME TO VISIT MY HUSBAND.

JULIETA MARTINELLI: OUR TOUR IS CUT SHORT AROUND 9AM. THE FIRST VISITORS.

VISITOR: GREAT. UNTIL TWO. OH, GREAT. YEAH. GREAT. HI. OH, NICE TO MEET YOU. ARE YOU TWO TOGETHER OR? UH YES, WE’RE TOGETHER.

HER NAME IS BROOKE. SHE’S HERE WITH HER SISTER-IN LAW. BROOKE IS VISITING HER HUSBAND, WHO’S BEEN AT STEWART FOR A FEW MONTHS.

BROOKE: SHE’S MY SISTER-IN-LAW. OKAY, GREAT. I’LL TRYING TO SEE IF MAYBE WE COULD TAKE A NAP. WE DROVE THREE HOURS.

JULIETA MARTINELLI: THE WOMEN STOPPED BY THE PRISON FIRST – IT’S HOW THE ROUTINE GOES, WE LEARN.

THE VISITATION HOURS ARE SPLIT BASED ON GENDER – WHO GOES FIRST, DEPENDS ON THE DAY. TODAY, SATURDAY, IT WAS MEN (FC) IN THE AFTERNOON – 2 TO 8PM. BUT, AS FAMILIES HAVE LEARNED THE HARD WAY, YOU CAN’T JUST SHOW UP ON TIME.

BROOKE: I KNOW LIKE THE TIME GETS FULL FAST. SO WE HAD TO COME HERE EARLY TO SIGN ON THE LIST, UM, TO VISIT IN THE AFTERNOON. SO WE’RE PART OF GROUP ONE. GREAT.

JULIETA MARTINELLI: VISITS AT STEWART HAPPEN BEHIND A THICK PLEXIGLASS. PEOPLE LIKE BROOKE TRAVEL FOR HOURS JUST TO TALK TO THEIR LOVED ONE THROUGH A PHONE. FAMILIES CAN’T EVEN HUG OR HOLD HANDS. EVEN IF THE GOVERNMENT CLAIMS DETENTION CENTERS ARE NOT PRISONS, IT ALL LOOKS AND FEELS THE SAME.

NOW THAT SHE’S SAFELY ON THIS LIST AND THERE’S A FEW HOURS TO KILL, BROOKE AND HER FAMILY CAN FINALLY REST. THEY THANK THE VOLUNTEERS AND MAKE THEIR WAY TO ONE OF THE BEDROOMS.

MARYLIN: MAKE YOURSELVES AT HOME. OKAY. AND LET US KNOW IF YOU NEED ANYTHING. THANK YOU.

JULIETA MARTINELLI: MARYLIN SAYS A LOT OF WHAT THEY END UP DOING IS FILLING IN NEW VISITORS WITH THESE KINDS OF NUANCES AROUND VISITATION. NOWHERE ON THE DHS SITE DOES IT INFORM VISITORS THEY NEED TO ARRIVE HOURS EARLY TO REGISTER FOR VISITATION. THERE ARE DRESS CODE GUIDELINES POSTED ONLINE, BUT THE GUARDS WILL SOMETIMES DENY ENTRY BASED ON ARBITRARY RULES LIKE RIPPED PANTS.

MARIA HINOJOSA: COMING UP ON LATINOUSA… WE MEET SOME OF THE FAMILIES PASSING BY EL REFUGIO ON THEIR WAY TO THE STEWART IMMIGRATION DETENTION CENTER.

VISITOR: YOU NEVER THINK THIS IS GONNA HAPPEN TO YOU. YOU NEVER THINK IT’S GOING TO HIT YOU LIKE THIS

MARIA HINOJOSA: AND LEARN HOW THESE DETENTIONS HAVE CHANGED THEIR LIVES. STAY WITH US. NO THE VAYAS.

MARIA HINOJOSA: HEY, WE’RE BACK. BEFORE THE BREAK, WE LEARNED ABOUT EL REFUGIO, A HOSPITALITY HOUSE FOR FAMILIES VISITING THEIR LOVED ONES AT AN IMMIGRATION DETENTION CENTER IN RURAL GEORGIA. NOW WE MEET SOME OF THOSE FAMILIES. SENIOR PRODUCER JULIETA MARTIN BRINGS US THIS STORY TODAY, SO LET’S GET BACK TO IT.

[AMBI HELLOS]

JULIETA MARTINELLI: NOT BEING ALLOWED INSIDE, NOT HAVING THE RIGHT CLOTHES OR ID – THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF ANXIETIES THAT ALSO PLAGUED MARIA DURING HER FIRST VISIT. IT’S NEARLY NOON WHEN I MEET HER, AFTER SHE WALKS IN, WITH HER MOM AND HER TODDLER, KEILANI.

JULIETA MARTINELLI:  HOW OLD ARE YOU? DOS?

JULIETA MARTINELLI: KEILANI ATTEMPTS TO SIGN “TWO” WITH HER FINGERS. SHE HAS HER HAIR IN PIG TAILS AND WEARS PURPLE SUN GLASSES.

MARIA HAS BEEN COMING DOWN TO STEWART FOR SEVERAL WEEKS NOW, BUT TODAY IS THE FIRST TIME SHE IS VISITING EL REFUGIO.

MARIA: I AM HERE TO COME AND VISIT MY FIANCE, HE HAS BEEN IN STEWART DETENTION CENTER SINCE JULY 20TH. UM, ON JULY 20TH, OUR WHOLE, WORLD CHANGED. HE WAS GOING TO WORK… SORRY. I GET EMOTIONAL.

JULIETA MARTINELLI: IT’S OKAY.

MARIA: HE WAS THE PROVIDER FOR OUR FAMILY, UM, NOT JUST LIKE OUR FAMILY, HIS, HIS MOM AND DAD IN MEXICO.

JULIETA MARTINELLI: IT’S NOW BEEN NEARLY SIX WEEKS SINCE HER FIANCE, LUIS, WAS DETAINED.

MARIA: HE WAS GOING TO WORK, , IT WAS EIGHT O’CLOCK AND HE CALLS ME AT EIGHT 30. HE’S LIKE, HEY, I WAS PICKED UP BY ICE. I WAS JUST PUTTING HER BACK TO SLEEP AND I WAS LIKE, WHAT DO YOU MEAN? I THOUGHT IT WAS A JOKE. WHEN HE FIRST SAID IT. I WAS LIKE, THAT’S NOT FUNNY AT ALL. AND HE WAS LIKE, NO, I’M NOT PLAYING. I WAS LIKE, WHAT DO YOU MEAN? I WENT TO GO CHECK OUTSIDE BUT BY THAT TIME HE WAS ALREADY GONE. HE’S LIKE, HEY, I KNOW IT’S A LOT. JUST LISTEN.HE’S LIKE, THE OFFICER WAS NICE ENOUGH TO LET ME KNOW THAT HE WAS ARRESTED.

JULIETA MARTINELLI: MARIA SAYS THEY SNATCHED HIM SOMEWHERE BETWEEN HIS FRONT DOOR AND HIS CAR. SHE SAYS THEY SHOWED HIM A PHOTO BUT HE NEVER SAW A WARRANT OR ANY DOCUMENTS TO EXPLAIN WHY.

IT DIDN’T MATTER. TECHNICALLY UNDER THE LAW, ICE SHOULD ARRIVE WITH JUDICIAL WARRANTS TO PICK UP THE PEOPLE THEY’RE THERE TO DETAIN – ESPECIALLY IF THEY WANT TO ENTER A BUSINESS OR A RESIDENCE. BUT THEY CAN ALSO LEGALLY DETAIN PEOPLE WITH “REASONABLE SUSPICION” IN PUBLIC PLACES, ACCORDING TO DHS. THE SUPREME COURT RECENTLY VALIDATED THIS, BASICALLY GIVING ICE CARTE BLANCHE TO RACIALLY PROFILE PEOPLE IN PUBLIC.

MARIA TELLS ME LUIS WAS SIMPLY PUT IN A CAR AND TAKEN AWAY. JUST LIKE THAT.

MARIA: IT’S REALLY HARD WITH THE NEW LAWS. I AM A US RESIDENT.WE JUST GOT ENGAGED LAST YEAR IN AUGUST. WE WERE GONNA GET MARRIED IN SEPTEMBER THAT WAS OUR PLAN. WE’VE BEEN TOGETHER FOR 12 YEARS.

JULIETA MARTINELLI: YOU WERE GONNA GET MARRIED IN A MONTH?

MARIA: YEAH.  YEAH, WE JUST WAITED. YOU REALLY NEVER THINK THIS IS GONNA HAPPEN TO YOU. YOU JUST HEAR IT ON THE NEWS, YOU HEAR LIKE, OH, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH, AND YOU NEVER THINK IT’S GONNA HIT YOU LIKE THIS.

JULIETA MARTINELLI: ALL THOSE PREPARATIONS OVER THE LAST YEAR- SUDDENLY DIDN’T MATTER. THE EMOTIONAL IMPACT OF LUIS’ ARREST WAS INSTANT, THE FAMILY WAS DISTRAUGHT. THEN CAME THE NEXT CHALLENGE  –

MARIA:  THE MONEY, THE FINANCIAL BURDEN OF THIS. LIKE I SAID, I WAS A STAY AT HOME MOM NOW TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHO THANK, THANK GOD WE HAVE SAVINGS. BUT AGAIN, THAT ONLY TAKES YOU SO LONG, SO YOU REALLY HAVE TO LIKE, THINK, THINK, THINK.

JULIETA MARTINELLI: MARIA LOOKS AT KEILANI, WHO IS RUNNING AROUND BACK AND FORTH IN THE WAITING AREA EATING A BANANA THAT SHE PICKED OUT IN THE KITCHEN.

MARIA: IT’S BEEN EMOTIONAL WITH HER ‘CAUSE HER LIFE HAS CHANGED IN LESS THAN A MONTH. SHE WAS WITH ME 24 HOURS SHE’S REALLY SMART, BUT SHE DOES HAVE SPEECH DELAY. WE WERE REALLY FOCUSING ON HER SPEECH DELAY, TRYING TO GET HER CARE AND ALL OF THAT.SO RIGHT NOW WE ARE, WE HAVE STOPPED THE THERAPY BECAUSE I NEED TO FIGURE OUT MY SCHEDULE. SO NOW WE’RE JUST ACCOMMODATING TO THE NEW NORMAL.

JULIETA MARTINELLI: THE NEW NORMAL MEANS THREE HOUR DRIVES TO STEWART ON THE WEEKENDS. MARIA SAYS THEY’VE BEEN WAITING FOR A BOND HEARING FOR OVER A MONTH. SHE FEARS HE’LL BE PUSHED INTO A FAST DEPORTATION.

THAT SENSE OF OVERWHELM, OF CHAOS – IT’S SOMETHING WE HEAR ABOUT FROM NEARLY EVERY PERSON ON THIS DAY. AS THE HOURS PASS, PEOPLE SHUFFLE IN AND OUT OF EL REFUGIO.

LATER IN THE AFTERNOON, AROUND 2PM, AS THE SECOND ROUND OF VISITATIONS BEGIN AT STEWART, THE LINE OF PEOPLE SHUFFLING IN AND OUT OF EL REFUGIO SLOWS DOWN.

MARYLIN IS BACK IN THE KITCHEN.

MARYLIN:  MINI MUFFINS. WE’VE GOT SOME NUTRIGRAIN BARS. THERE’S A, A ZIPLOC BAG OF LENTIL SOUP IN THERE THAT IS VEGAN. SO I’M GONNA PULL THAT OUT. OKAY. AND YEAH, THAT’S RIGHT. OKAY.

[AMBI, COOKING SOUNDS]

JULIETA MARTINELLI: LATER, TWO WOMEN WALK THROUGH THE DOOR. THEY ARE BOTH WEARING JEANS AND WHITE TOPS. A BLONDE AND A BRUNETTE CHATTING–THEY CLEARLY CAME HERE TOGETHER.

AFTER THEY GET SETTLED IN, I APPROACH THE WOMEN AS THEY TALK QUIETLY AT THE DINING ROOM TABLE DRINKING COFFEE. THEY TELL ME THEY ARE GRATEFUL TO BE NAVIGATING THE COMPLEXITY OF IMMIGRATION DETENTION TOGETHER – AND SO ARE THEIR HUSBANDS.

ALMA:  ESTÁN JUNTOS. AHÍ ESTÁN JUNTOS.

JULIETA MARTINELLI: ALMA, THE BRUNETTE, AND ANA, THE BLONDE, ARE FRIENDS – WELL, THEY ARE NOW. THEIR HUSBANDS WERE COWORKERS – THEY ARE PAINTERS – NOW THEY’RE LOCKED UP TOGETHER AT STEWART.

ALMA:  ÉL Y UN COMPAÑERO VENÍAN DEL TRABAJO Y VENÍAN EN UN A B DE DE TRABAJAR.

JULIETA MARTINELLI: ALMA SAYS THEY WERE ON THEIR WAY BACK FROM WORK A FEW WEEKS AGO. A THIRD COWORKER WAS DRIVING. THEY WERE JUST A COUPLE MILES AWAY FROM THEIR JOB SITE IN A WEALTHY SUBURB NORTH OF ATLANTA. THE MEN STOPPED AT A GAS STATION AS THEY DID EVERY DAY – THEY PUMPED GAS, GRABBED COFFEE AND MADE THEIR WAY BACK TO THEIR WORK VAN.

ALMA: Y HABÍA UN POLICÍA EN UNA GASOLINERA.

JULIETA MARTINELLI: THERE, THEY SPOTTED A COP, WATCHING THEM. THE MINUTE THEY PULLED OUT – POLICE LIGHTS.

ALMA: Y PUES EL POLICÍA AL VERLOS ESTE POR SU APARIENCIA DE HISPANOS, PUES EL POLICÍA LOS SIGUIÓ.

JULIETA MARTINELLI: ALMA THINKS THEY WERE RACIALLY PROFILED. BOTH WOMEN SAY THAT, ACCORDING TO THEIR HUSBANDS, THE COP DIDN’T TELL THEM WHY HE PULLED THEM OVER.

ALMA: NO LES DIO TICKETS NI NADA.

JULIETA MARTINELLI: INSTEAD SHE SAYS HE ASKED IF THEY WERE LEGAL. IT WAS AN ODD QUESTION, ACCORDING TO ALMA, BECAUSE SHE SAYS THE DRIVER HAD PROVIDED A DRIVER’S LICENSE.

ALMA: SIMPLEMENTE LO ÚNICO QUE HIZO FUE LLAMARLES A LOS A LAS PERSONAS.

JULIETA MARTINELLI: SHE SAYS THE OFFICER STEPPED BACK AND MADE A CALL. THEN, SHE SAYS THE MEN SAW A CAR PARKED ACROSS THE STREET AT A FIRE STATION PULL AROUND BEHIND THEM.

ALMA: MI ESPOSO ME COMENTA QUE ES ESAS PERSONAS ESTABAN. AH EN UNA ESTACIÓN DE BOMBEROS.

JULIETA MARTINELLI: THEY SAY HE GREETED THE MASKED MEN WHO EXITED THE UNMARKED CAR.

ALMA: NO TRAÍA NADA DE PLACA DE POLICÍA.

JULIETA MARTINELLI: THERE WERE NO DECALS, BADGES, OR IDENTIFICATION. JUST MEN IN A CAR.

THIS IS SOMETHING WE’VE SEEN OFTEN THIS YEAR AFTER TRUMP TOOK OFFICE AND SOMETHING THAT KEEPS POPPING UP IN LATINOUSA’S REPORTING, NO MATTER WHAT STATE WE’RE IN. ICE AGENTS IN UNMARKED VEHICLES. THEY SHOW UP OUT OF NOWHERE, SNATCH PEOPLE UP WITHOUT PAPERWORK OR EXPLANATION, AND TAKE THEM INTO CUSTODY. IT ALL HAPPENS SO QUICKLY.

ALMA:  ERA UN CARRO PARTICULAR ESTE Y A LOS CINCO MINUTOS QUE LOS PARA LOS PARÓ LA POLICÍA A LOS CINCO MINUTOS LLEGÓ. NUNCA FUERON A AL AL DEPARTAMENTO DE POLICÍA. ELLOS FUERON DIRECTAMENTE A A AL DEPARTAMENTO DE ICE

JULIETA MARTINELLI: ALMA SAYS IT TOOK LESS THAN 5 MINUTES BETWEEN BEING PULLED OVER TO THE MOMENT THEY WERE TAKEN BY ICE. THEY WERE SENT DIRECTLY TO A PROCESSING FACILITY IN ATLANTA, THEN EVENTUALLY, HERE.

ALMA LEADS THE STORYTELLING. ANA, SITTING NEXT TO ME AT THE TABLE, CAN’T STOP WIPING HER TEARS. AT SOME POINT, SOMEONE PLACES A CONTAINER OF KLEENEX IN FRONT OF HER. THE BALLED UP TISSUES PILE AROUND US ON THE TABLE.

BUT ALMA IS ANGRY – SHE WONDERS: WAS THE COP WORKING UNOFFICIALLY WITH ICE? WHY NOT TAKE THEM INTO THE LOCAL JAIL IF THEY DID SOMETHING WRONG? HE WAS A COP…WHY WOULD HE ALLOW THEM TO BE TAKEN BY UNIDENTIFIED MEN?

JULIETA MARTINELLI: WHILE IN GA A NEW STATE LAW REQUIRES LOCAL SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENTS TO CHECK THE LEGAL STATUS OF PEOPLE TAKEN INTO CUSTODY, THERE ARE RULES AND POLICIES TO FOLLOW. THE PERSON MUST BE CHARGED WITH SOMETHING AND PROCESSED AT THE LOCAL JAIL BEFORE BEING PLACED ON AN ICE HOLD.

ALMA:  SI MI ESPOSO EN ESE MOMENTO LE HUBIERA DICHO A ELLOS, SABEN QUE YO TENGO UNA PETICIÓN Y MI ESPOSA TIENE TODOS LOS DOCUMENTOS. DÉJENME LE HABLO QUE ELLA LOS MUESTRE HASTA SI ESO SE HUBIERA PODIDO HACER.

JULIETA MARTINELLI: ALMA SAYS HER HUSBAND SHOULD’VE NEVER BEEN TAKEN IN – HE HAS AN OPEN PETITION FOR ADJUSTMENT OF STATUS. THEY’RE IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING HIS GREEN CARD.

SHE SAYS THE LAWYER SHE HIRED TOLD HER THAT A YEAR AGO, THAT WOULD HAVE MEANT A HIGH LIKELIHOOD OF HIS RELEASE AT LEAST ON BOND. SO FAR, THEY’VE GOTTEN NOWHERE.

AND IT’S NOT SURPRISING, GIVEN THE GROWING REPORTS OF ICE PICKING UP PEOPLE AT THEIR OWN IMMIGRATION APPOINTMENTS – THE PLACE WHERE YOU HAVE TO SHOW UP WHEN YOU’RE DOING  THINGS “THE RIGHT WAY”.

ALMA:  YO NO LE DESEO A NADIE LO QUE YO ESTOY VIVIENDO. LO QUE ANA ESTÁ VIVIENDO.LA INCERTIDUMBRE QUE COMO, QUÉ VAMOS A HACER? QUÉ VAMOS A HACER? NOS VAMOS A QUEDAR AQUÍ O NOS VAMOS A IR A MÉXICO. QUÉ VAMOS A HACER?

JULIETA MARTINELLI: THE HARDEST PART, ALMA SAYS, IS NOT KNOWING WHAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN. WILL THEY BE ABLE TO GET THEIR PARTNERS OUT? WILL THEY GET DEPORTED? WILL THE WOMEN HAVE TO ABANDON EVERYTHING THEY’VE BUILT HERE AND RETURN TO MEXICO? DO THEY WANT TO? WILL THEY HAVE TO?

ALMA: VIVIMOS PORQUE TENEMOS QUE VIVIR. PERO SI NO…[CRYING] YO VOY A BUSCAR ALGUIEN QUE ME AYUDÉ A RENTAR UN CUARTO PORQUE YO SOLA NO, NO PUEDO LA VERDAD.

JULIETA MARTINELLI:  ALMA AND ANA ARE BOTH LOOKING TO RENT OUT ROOMS IN THEIR HOMES. ALMA SAYS SHE FEARS FOR HER SAFETY, SO SHE’S TRYING TO HOLD OUT TO FIND A FEMALE TENANT.

AFTER OUR CHAT, ALMA AND ANA HEAD OFF TO STEWART TO VISIT THEIR HUSBANDS. FIRST, THEY GO TO THE BATHROOM, THEY TOUCH UP THEIR HAIR. THEY SMILE AND PUT ON A FACADE THAT THEY’RE OK, THEY’RE STRONG.

JULIETA MARTINELLI: VOLUNTEERS KEEP A TALLY OF THE PEOPLE PASSING THROUGH. THEY USED TO KEEP A LIST – FAMILIES WALKED IN, PUT THEIR LOVED ONES NAMES DOWN, AND COULD SHARE CONTACT INFORMATION. IT’S HOW THEY COULD GET A SENSE OF HOW PROCESSES WERE CHANGING –  A GENERAL IDEA OF HOW LONG IT TOOK TO GET A BOND HEARING, TO GET TRANSFERRED, RELEASED OR EVEN DEPORTED.

BUT NOW, THAT’S TOO RISKY.

AFTER 15 YEARS HERE, VOLUNTEERS SAY FOR THE FIRST TIME THEY FEAR THAT ICE WILL SHOW UP AT EL REFUGIO. SO SINCE TRUMP TOOK OFFICE, THEY STOPPED KEEPING TRACK.

THEY ALSO LOCK THEIR DOORS NOW. SOMETHING MARILYN SAYS FEELS WRONG – BUT NECESSARY. 

SHANNON HEFFERNAN:  I SEE THAT YOU HAVE YOUR CAUTION SIGNS UP HERE.

JULIETA MARTINELLI: THAT’S REPORTER, SHANNON, AGAIN.

SHANNON HEFFERNAN: HAVE YOU EVER HAD ANYBODY ACTUALLY COME TO THE DOOR LOOKING FOR PEOPLE?

VOLUNTEER: NO. YEAH. UH, BUT IT’S SOMETHING THAT WE’RE PREPARED FOR.

JULIETA MARTINELLI: THE VOLUNTEERS HAVE EVEN BEEN RECENTLY TRAINED AND RAN PRACTICE DRILLS ON WHAT TO DO IF ICE SHOWS UP.

RUN TO THE DOOR. MAKE SURE IT’S LOCKED. ASK FOR A WARRANT. MAKE SURE IT’S A JUDICIAL WARRANT. DON’T OPEN THE DOOR. DON’T SAY ANYTHING. BE QUIET. AND –

VOLUNTEER: PLEASE START RECORDING IMMEDIATELY. YEAH. OKAY.

[CHIME SOUND INTERRUPTS]

VOLUNTEER: YEAH, THAT’S JUST SAYING THAT SOMEBODY IS WALKING PAST THE AH, GOT IT. THE LIGHT THERE.

JULIETA MARTINELLI: AS IF ON CUE, A CHIME PLAYS OVER A SPEAKER. A MOTION SENSOR.

AT THIS POINT, MY REPORTING PARTNER SHANNON ASKS —

SHANNON HEFFERNAN: SO HAVE YOU TRYING TO BE PRETTY CAREFUL ABOUT SECURITY AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

MARYLIN:  YOU KNOW, BALANCING HOSPITALITY AND SAFETY IS A REALLY, REALLY DIFFICULT DANCE. OUR HOME IS OPEN TO ANYBODY WHO COMES TO US. ASKING FOR HOSPITALITY AT THE SAME TIME, WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS A CLEAR BOUNDARY THERE BETWEEN WHAT’S PUBLIC SPACE AND WHAT’S PRIVATE SPACE, AND THAT WE DON’T ALLOW ANYONE INTO THIS SPACE WHO HAS ILL INTENTIONS, AND THAT THAT INCLUDES MORE THAN JUST ICE.

JULIETA MARTINELLI: MARILYN SAYS SHE FOLLOWS THE NEWS CLOSELY. IT’S NOT SURPRISING TO HEAR OF THIS FEAR – AFTER ALL, THERE HAS BEEN A RISE IN REPORTS ON ATTACKS ON IMMIGRANTS, EVEN PEOPLE MASQUERADING AS ICE AGENTS TO CAUSE HARM.

MARYLIN: IT COULD INCLUDE ANYBODY WHO FEELS LIKE THEY’VE BEEN EMPOWERED TO TAKE THINGS INTO THEIR OWN HANDS AND TO BE ABUSIVE TO THE PEOPLE THAT WE SERVE. OR ABUSIVE TO US FOR THAT MATTER.

JULIETA MARTINELLI: WHILE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE DETENTION CENTER AND THE HOSPITALITY HOUSE HAS ALWAYS BEEN RELATIVELY PEACEFUL, THE CLIMATE IN THE COUNTRY, AND THE ATTITUDE TOWARDS IMMIGRANTS, HAS UNDOUBTEDLY CHANGED.

MARYLIN: WE’VE NOT HAD THAT ISSUE, BUT OF COURSE IT’S LIKE TOP OF MIND. TOP OF MIND.

MARIA HINOJOSA: COMING UP ON LATINO USA… THE VOLUNTEERS WHO GO INTO STEWART DETENTION CENTER COME BACK WITH STORIES ABOUT THE CONDITIONS INSIDE. AND WE HEAR FROM MORE FAMILIES ABOUT THE TOLL THE UNCERTAINTY OF ICE DETENTION IS TAKING ON ALL OF THEM. STAY WITH US NO TE VAYAS.

MARIA HINOJOSA: HEY, WE’RE BACK. BEFORE THE BREAK, WE HEARD ABOUT THE RISE IN ICE ENFORCEMENT ACROSS THE NATION. AND HOW THAT’S LED FAMILIES IN GEORGIA HERE, TO A HOSPITALITY HOUSE JUST OUTSIDE AN IMMIGRATION DETENTION CENTER. NOW, WE CONTINUE OUR 48 HOURS INSIDE EL REFUGIO. AND WE HEAR FROM RETURNING VOLUNTEERS ABOUT CONDITIONS INSIDE STEWART. SENIOR PRODUCER JULIETA MARTINELLI PICKS UP FROM HERE.

JULIETA MARTINELLI: IT’S DINNER TIME NOW AT EL REFUGIO. AFTER ALL FAMILIES HAVE LEFT, VOLUNTEERS – MARYLIN, AMY, MCKENZIE AND TWO KATIE’S –  FINALLY SIT DOWN OVER BOWLS OF HOMEMADE LENTIL SOUP AND SHARE DETAILS OF THEIR DAY. THE HOUSE IS EMPTY TONIGHT.

[AMBI CHATTER]

JULIETA MARTINELLI: AND WHAT THEY HEAR ABOUT CONDITIONS INSIDE- THEY COMPARE AND TAKE NOTES. THINGS LIKE ISSUES ACCESSING COMMISSARY, AND FOOD –

VOLUNTEER: THERE SEEMS TO BE A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT DELAY BETWEEN WHEN YOU ORDER SOMETHING AND WHEN YOU GET IT..

JULIETA MARTINELLI: OR THE FAILURE TO PROVIDE QUALITY TRANSLATORS – WHICH ARE INTEGRAL TO A PERSON’S IMMIGRATION CASE

VOLUNTEER: THE IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY, I KNOW HE’S HAD ISSUES WITH, COURT INTERPRETATION.I REMEMBER ONE CASE HE WAS TALKING ABOUT THAT HE SPEAKS ENOUGH ARABIC TO KNOW IF SOMEBODY IS INTERPRETING IT WELL OR NOT

JULIETA MARTINELLI: INTERPRETERS WHO DON’T SPEAK THE LANGUAGE WELL. AND… OTHER CHALLENGES OF COMMUNICATION – LIKE WITH TABLETS FOR VIDEO VISITATION. FOR FAMILIES WITHOUT PAPERS, OR THOSE UNABLE TO TRAVEL HERE, THIS IS THE ONLY WAY TO SEE THEIR LOVED ONE.

VOLUNTEER:  THE LADY I SPOKE TO LAST TIME SAID THERE WAS THREE TABLETS FOR HOWEVER MANY ARE IN HER THING. YEAH. SHE SAID THERE WERE 62 PEOPLE IN HERE.

JULIETA MARTINELLI: NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO GET A CHANCE AT VIDEO VISITS.

THAT’S WHY THESE IN-PERSON VISITS ARE SO IMPORTANT, AND NECESSARY TO FAMILIES. AND TO THE VOLUNTEERS, WHO STEP IN FOR THOSE WHO CAN’T VISIT.

IT’S NOT EASY – SEEING PEOPLE IN THEIR DARKEST HOURS. HEARING THEIR STORIES. WANTING TO HELP, BUT REALLY ONLY BEING ABLE TO LISTEN. AFTER ALL, EACH OF THE VOLUNTEERS TELLS US THEY ENDED UP HERE BECAUSE THEY WERE FED UP WITH SEEING WHAT THEY CONSIDER CRUELTY ON THE NEWS. THEY WANTED TO FEEL USEFUL – TO DO SOMETHING.

MARYLIN:  THERE WAS A MAN HERE.. A MAN WHO TOOK HIS OWN LIFE AT STEWART. OH GOD. AND I WAS THE HOUSE COORDINATOR THAT WEEKEND.

THAT’S MARYLIN AGAIN.

MARYLIN: WE HAD BEEN TOLD THIS IS A PRIORITY VISIT TO HAVE HAPPEN. SO I WAS GONNA GO VISIT HIM ON SATURDAY, BUT THEN HIS MOM CAME BY THE HOUSE AND SHE WAS COMING FROM STEWART AND SHE SAID, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, CAN SOMEONE CHECK ON MY SON TOMORROW? AND I SAID, YES, I WILL, I WILL GO CHECK ON YOUR SON TOMORROW. AND HE WAS IN SEGREGATION AT THAT POINT.

JULIETA MARTINELLI: SEGREGATION REFERS TO A PERSON PLACED IN A PROTECTED UNIT –  YOU MIGHT ALSO HAVE HEARD IT DESCRIBED AS SOLITARY CONFINEMENT.

MARYLIN: SO I WENT OVER REALLY EARLY TO TRY TO VISIT HIM.

JULIETA MARTINELLI: BUT MARILYN SAYS SHE WAS TOLD SHE COULDN’T SEE HIM.

MARYLIN: I WENT HOME AND THEN MONDAY MORNING, I GOT A PHONE CALL THAT HE HAD TAKEN HIS OWN LIFE, I MEAN, IT WAS HARD. IT WAS HARD BECAUSE I, I MEAN, IT’S NOT LIKE I FELT LIKE MY VISIT COULD HAVE CHANGED ANYTHING, BUT, YOU KNOW, IT FELT, IT FELT PERSONAL IN A WAY.

JULIETA MARTINELLI: THE OTHER VOLUNTEERS NOD THEIR HEADS – IT’S A SENTIMENT THEY SEEM TO SHARE.

MARYLIN: HIS MOM KNEW. HIS MOM KNEW HE NEEDED SOMETHING. YEAH. YEAH.

JULIETA MARTINELLI: ACROSS THE NATION, THERE HAVE BEEN 20 DEATHS IN ICE CUSTODY JUST THIS YEAR. IN FACT, BY OCTOBER, THIS WAS ALREADY CONSIDERED THE DEADLIEST YEAR FOR PEOPLE IN ICE CUSTODY IN TWO DECADES.

THESE ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS THESE VOLUNTEERS HAVE TO GRAPPLE WITH.

JULIETA MARTINELLI: BUT AMY, ONE OF THE VOLUNTEERS, SAYS WHILE IT’S EMOTIONALLY DIFFICULT WORK, IT’S HELPED HER FEEL LIKE AT LEAST SHE’S DOING SOMETHING

AMY: PEOPLE JUST LIKE, REALLY LIKE, ARE LIKE DESPERATE FOR LIKE TANGIBLE WAYS TO HELP. AND IT’S LIKE SO CONFUSING RIGHT NOW, LIKE WHAT’S ACTUALLY HELPFUL

JULIETA MARTINELLI: FOR THOSE WHO’VE BEEN HERE LONGER, THOUGH, LIKE ONE OF THE KATIES WHO IS ALSO A COORDINATOR, THE WORK CAN TAKE A TOLL

AMY:  I HAVEN’T BEEN HERE IN SIX MONTHS PROBABLY. IT’S BEEN A WHILE. AND I WAS REALLY BEATING MYSELF UP ABOUT IT AND JUST KIND OF LIKE, DO I WANNA COME BACK OUT? CAN I COPE? I DON’T KNOW THAT I’M STRONG ENOUGH TO DO THIS WORK, HONESTLY. I WAS LIKE, IN THIS KIND OF PARALYZED PLACE…

JULIETA MARTINELLI: RECENTLY, SHE’S BEEN DOUBTING IF SHE’S REALLY HELPFUL, BECAUSE HER SPANISH IS NOT THAT GREAT AND SHE HAD A SITUATION WHERE SHE WAS UNABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE PERSON. IT MADE HER FEEL HELPLESS, LIKE SHE LET THE PERSON DOWN.

AMY:  I HAVE TO GET OUTTA MY OWN HEAD THAT I DON’T HAVE TO DO IT PERFECTLY. LIKE I DON’T HAVE TO BE THE MOST PREPARED, I DON’T HAVE TO BE THE MOST EMOTIONALLY AVAILABLE, STABLE, YOU KNOW, I DON’T HAVE TO HAVE THE MOST LANGUAGE. LIKE I JUST HAVE TO SHOW UP.

JULIETA MARTINELLI: THAT’S REALLY WHAT IT’S ABOUT HERE, IT SEEMS. EVERY NEED CAN’T BE FULLY MET. THERE IS CHAOS, CONSTANT CHANGES, PEOPLE IN AND OUT – ALL PLAYING OUT IN A SYSTEM MUCH BIGGER THAN THIS PLACE OR THESE PEOPLE. BUT WHAT EACH OF THESE VOLUNTEERS SAY THEY CAN DO – IS CONTINUE TO SHOW UP. TO SHOW, BY ACTION, TO IMMIGRANT FAMILIES THAT THEY’RE NOT ALONE.

JULIETA MARTINELLI: THE NEXT DAY, NO ONE SEEMS TO HAVE GOT MUCH SLEEP. IT WAS A LONG, HEAVY DAY.

8AM. BREAKFAST IS MADE. COFFEE IS BREWED.

[AMBI BREAKFAST CHATTER]

JULIETA MARTINELLI: BY 10, 11AM, NOON – FAMILIES FINISHING THE FIRST WAVE OF VISITATION ARE SHUFFLING IN TO EAT, REST OR NAP BEFORE THEY HAVE TO DO THE LONG DRIVE HOME.

WHILE A LOT OF THE VISITORS HAVE BEEN LATINOS – WE MET FAMILIES FROM RUSSIA, VIETNAM, AND GAMBIA PASSING THROUGH THE HOUSE.

JULIETA MARTINELLI: ON OUR FINAL DAY, WE ALSO MEET A YOUNG WOMAN, HERE WITH HER HUSBAND AND CHILDREN, COMING TO VISIT HER FATHER.

VISITOR:  I JUST HAD A WHOLE COFFEE ON THE WAY HERE. IT WAS, IT WAS A DRIVE, SO I HAD TO, HAD TO –

MARYLIN: STAY AWAKE?

VISITOR: KEEP MYSELF AWAKE.

SHANNON HEFFERNAN: HAVE YOU GUYS BEEN DRIVING SINCE MORNING?

VISITOR: YEAH, SINCE LIKE. FIVE. YEAH, FIVE.

MARYLIN: SO YOU MUST BE WAY UP IN NORTH GEORGIA.

VISITOR: YEAH, WE’RE LIKE NORTHWEST.

JULIETA MARTINELLI: THEY HAVE TODDLERS IN TOW.

SHANNON: IS THIS YOUR FIRST TIME TO STEWART UHHUH?

VISITOR: YEAH. YES MA’AM. I’M SURE IS.

VOLUNTEER: THEY GOT A NICE SET OF TOYS IN THERE TOO.

VISITOR: OH, UH OH. GO FIND SOME TOYS. I’M SURE I’LL, THEY’LL FIND THEM HERE.

JULIETA MARTINELLI: AFTER THE KIDS GET SETTLED, SHANNON SITS DOWN WITH THEM IN THE FRONT ROOM.

SHANNON HEFFERNAN:  HOW LONG HAS YOUR DAD BEEN THERE?

VISITOR: UM, BEEN THERE FOR MAYBE A WEEK

SHANNON HEFFERNAN: I’M SURE HE’S GONNA BE THRILLED TO SEE YOU ALL.

JULIETA MARTINELLI: SHE STILL REMEMBERS THE DAY SHE FOUND OUT HE WAS IN CUSTODY.

VISITOR:  I JUST GOT A CALL FROM MY DAD. HE SAID THAT HE WAS DETAINED BY ICE. IT’S JUST DEFINITELY CAUGHT US BY ATIC BECAUSE HE WASN’T, HE’S NOT A CRIMINAL, HE DIDN’T DO ANYTHING WRONG.

JULIETA MARTINELLI: NOW, THEY’RE IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO DEPORT HIM TO A COUNTRY HE HASN’T VISITED IN 43 YEARS.

VISITOR: HE DOESN’T HAVE FAMILY THERE. EVERYONE IS HERE.

SHANNON HEFFERNAN: HAVE YOU GOTTEN ANY WORD ABOUT HOW YOUR DAD’S DOING IN THERE?

JULIETA MARTINELLI: THAT’S MARSHALL PROJECT REPORTER, SHANNON AGAIN.

VISITOR: HE SAID THAT HE WAS NOT EVEN EATING THEIR FOOD. WE’RE SENDING HIM COMMISSARY MONEY SO THAT HE, AND HE’S EATING TUNA.

JULIETA MARTINELLI: AS THE CONVERSATION CONTINUES, IT UNDOUBTEDLY VEERS TOWARDS TRUMP’S POLICIES.

VISITOR:  I’M A REPUBLICAN, AND I KNOW THAT TRUMP PUT THIS IN PLACE AND STUFF, AND I DID VOTE FOR HIM, WHICH, BUT I DIDN’T KNOW. LIKE IT WASN’T JUST RAPISTS AND KILLERS AND MURDERS AND THIS AND THAT, LIKE DRUG, MY DAD’S NOT ANY OF THAT. WHEN TRUMP WAS ADVOCATING AND STUFF AND CAMPAIGNING, I HAD NO IDEA AND LIKE, IT WAS JUST LIKE REALLY ALL JUST ABOUT LIKE HATE, YOU KNOW?

SHANNON HEFFERNAN: AND YOU THOUGHT WHEN HE WAS TALKING ABOUT.

VISITOR: YEAH, I WAS IMMIGRANTS.

SHANNON HEFFERNAN: HE WASN’T TALKING ABOUT YOUR DAD.

VISITOR: NO. YEAH, I WAS THINKING ABOUT LIKE, YOU KNOW, LITERALLY LIKE HUMAN TRAFFICKERS AND, AND LIKE, AND CRIMINALS LIKE THAT ARE HURTING OTHER PEOPLE, YOU KNOW? I DON’T WANNA BE AROUND THAT. I DON’T WANT MY KIDS TO BE AROUND THAT. THAT’S WHAT HE CAMPAIGNED AND THAT’S WHAT HE SAID AND STUFF. SO IT’S LIKE, YEAH. IT’S VERY FRUSTRATING.

JULIETA MARTINELLI: BUT THIS EXPERIENCE HAS CHANGED A LOT FOR HER. SHE SAYS SHE NO LONGER SUPPORTS TRUMP-

VISITOR: NOT JUST BECAUSE OF MY DAD’S SITUATION, BUT BECAUSE I DO, I FEEL IT’S JUST DIVIDING LIKE THE COUNTRY. YOU’RE JUST BEING SO, SO HATEFUL, YOU KNOW? AND LIKE, WE NEED MORE, MORE LOVE AND LIKE UNDERSTANDING AND, AND STUFF LIKE, NOT THIS, THIS JUST CAUSES HUGE DIVISIONS AND HURTS FAMILIES AND PEOPLE…

JULIETA MARTINELLI: IT MIGHT BE DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND HOW SOMEONE CAN VOTE FOR TRUMP WHEN THEIR LOVED ONES IMMIGRATION STATUS IS UP IN THE AIR – BUT IT HELPS TO LOOK AT THE ADMINISTRATION’S MESSAGING AROUND IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT.

TRUMP CAMPAIGNED ON THE IDEA THAT HE WOULD ROUND UP CRIMINALS AND THOSE CAUSING HARM TO COMMUNITIES – INSTEAD, AS WE’VE SEEN OVER THE LAST 10 MONTHS, ICE HAS ACTUALLY DONE THE OPPOSITE. RECENT DATA SHOWS THAT MORE THAN 70 PERCENT OF PEOPLE CURRENTLY IN ICE CUSTODY DON’T HAVE A CRIMINAL RECORD.

AND AN ANALYSIS BY THE VERA INSTITUTE OF JUSTICE SHOWS THAT, IN THE FIRST FOUR-AND-A-HALF MONTHS OF THE SECOND TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, ICE BOOKED PEOPLE INTO DETENTION ROUGHLY 119,500 TIMES—A 17 PERCENT INCREASE FROM THE SAME TIME PERIOD DURING TRUMP’S FIRST TERM, AND A 46 PERCENT INCREASE FROM THE SAME PERIOD UNDER PRESIDENT BIDEN.

FAMILIES LIKE THIS ARE HAVING TO COME TO TERMS WITH THE FACT THAT WHEN TRUMP SAID CRIMINALS – IT ALSO MEANS THEM.

MARIA HINOJOSA: HEY. WE’LL BE RIGHT BACK.

MARIA HINOJOSA: WE’RE BACK.

JULIETA MARTINELLI: AS THEY SHUFFLE OUT OF THE HOUSE LATER, I SIT IN THE KITCHEN, TALKING WITH TWO OF THE VOLUNTEERS WHO SPEAK RUSSIAN. THEY’VE JUST RETURNED FROM VISITATION.

VOLUNTEER:  RECENTLY THERE HAVE BEEN AN A FEW, LIKE FOUR OR FIVE RUSSIAN SPEAKING WOMEN WHO HAVE ASKED FOR VISITS. ONE RUSSIAN SPEAKER FIGURES OUT HOW TO CONTACT US AND THEN, THEN SHE TELLS THE OTHER RUSSIAN SPEAKERS.

JULIETA MARTINELLI: IT USED TO BE THAT THEY MOSTLY NEEDED SPANISH SPEAKING VOLUNTEERS – THEY STILL DO –  BUT THERE’S ACTUALLY ALL KINDS OF LANGUAGE NEEDS.

VOLUNTEER: WE HAD A WHOLE GROUP OF MEN FROM CAMEROON WHO, WHO WE WERE VISITING. A COUPLE PEOPLE FROM SOME FROM LATIN AMERICA AND THERE’S A COUPLE OF PEOPLE ON OUR LIST NOW FROM COUNTRIES IN AFRICA.

JULIETA MARTINELLI: IT’S ONE OF THE CHALLENGES – AND PROOF- OF THE EXPANDING OF ICE ENFORCEMENT INTO ALL KINDS OF COMMUNITIES. AND IT’S LED TO PEOPLE HAVING TO MAKE DECISIONS THEY NEVER THOUGHT THEY WOULD. LIKE VERONICA.

I FIRST SPOT HER PLAYING A CARD GAME AT THE OTHER END OF THE DINING ROOM TABLE WITH TWO YOUNG BOYS EATING THE SANDWICHES THAT HAD BEEN LAID OUT IN THE KITCHEN EARLIER THAT DAY.

THERE’S BARELY ANY ROOM AT THIS POINT, NEARLY ALL 18 SEATS ARE TAKEN BY FAMILIES EATING LUNCH, DRINKING COFFEE, AND CHATTING AMONGST EACH OTHER. . I’M OVER IN THE LIVING ROOM SITTING ON THE FLOOR CHATTING WITH OTHER FAMILIES. ACROSS FROM ME A LITTLE GIRL SLEEPS ON HER MOM’S LAP. I MAKE MY WAY TO THE TABLE.

VERONICA:  THESE ARE MY BROTHERS. OH MY GOD.

JULIETA MARTINELLI: I ALSO BROUGHT UNO CARDS IN MY BAG.

VERONICA: YOU WANNA PLAY WITH US ACTUALLY? YES. YEAH.

JULIETA MARTINELLI: I LOVE UNO. OF COURSE, I CAN’T SAY NO.

JULIETA MARTINELLI:  YOU GONNA SHUFFLE THOSE? WANT ME TO? YOU’RE GOOD. SCARED TO PLAY WITH YOU. I SHOULDN’T HAVE STEPPED DOWN. WHO ARE YOU GUYS VISITING?

VERONICA: YOU KNOW MY FIANCE.

JULIETA MARTINELLI: YOUR FIANCE?

JULIETA MARTINELLI: VERONICA DROVE DOWN FROM ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA.

VERONICA: SO IT’S SIX HOURS OF A DRIVE EVERY TIME BACK AND NO, WELL, IT’S 12 HOURS IN TOTAL,  THEY GOT HIM IN HIS OWN, UM, IMMIGRATION APPOINTMENT, AND HE DOESN’T HAVE A CRIMINAL RECORD. HE DOESN’T HAVE ANY REASON TO BE DETAINED, LIKE HIS VISAS ARE UP TO DATE. WE WERE BOTH SURPRISED. I WAS REALLY DEVASTATED WHEN HE TOLD ME.

JULIETA MARTINELLI: LIKE MANY OF THE STORIES WE HEARD THIS WEEKEND, VERONICA SAYS THEY WERE FOLLOWING THE LAW. HER FIANCE WAS GOING TO HIS IMMIGRATION CHECK-INS. AND THEY WERE PLANNING TO GET MARRIED. SHE HAD NEVER CONSIDERED THAT THIS COULD HAPPEN –

VERONICA:  I STARTED SCREAMING, I STARTED CRYING. I WANTED TO FILL UP EVERYTHING WITH RAGE, BUT I KNOW HE NEEDED ME AS MUCH AS I NEEDED HIM, SO I JUST CALMED DOWN.

JULIETA MARTINELLI: I WATCH VERONICA AS WE PLAY THE CARD GAME. SHE GIGGLES AND LAUGHS, SHE SEEMS POINTEDLY DIFFERENT FROM OTHERS IN THE HOUSE. SHE’S OPTIMISTIC. AND THAT’S BECAUSE ALL THIS – THE VISITS, THE LAWYERS, THE STRESS, THE CRYING- IT’S COMING TO AN END.

VERONICA:  HE MADE THE DECISION TO VOLUNTARILY DEPORT HIMSELF. SO WE’RE GONNA MAKE THAT CHANGE AND JUST GO TO COLOMBIA.  HE SAID THAT HE’D RATHER DO THAT AND THEN JUST TRY TO COME BACK AGAIN AFTER THIS PRESIDENCY IS OVER AND JUST GO FROM THERE. AND I’M JUST SUPPORTING HIM WHAT I TOLD HIM FROM THE BEGINNING, WHATEVER HE WANTS TO DECIDE OR WHATEVER HE FEELS LIKE IT’S BEST FOR HIM, WE JUST GO FROM THERE.

JULIETA MARTINELLI:  SO YOUR WHOLE LIFE IS JUST CHANGING.

VERONICA: YES, IT IS. AND IT WAS A REALLY FAST, DRASTIC CHANGE, BUT WE JUST GOTTA KEEP GOING.  I’M GONNA BASICALLY SELL EVERYTHING THAT I HAVE HERE, HAVE A COUPLE OF MONIES SO I CAN BE OVER THERE AND JUST GO FROM THERE.I’M EXCITED. I’M REALLY EXCITED OVER EVERYTHING SO WE CAN GET REUNITED AGAIN.

JULIETA MARTINELLI: BEFORE VERONICA LEAVES SHE SAYS.. SHE CAN’T WAIT TO GET BACK TO LIVING HER LIFE.

SHE RADIATES JOY AND PEACE. SOMETHING THAT STANDS OUT TO ME AFTER A WEEKEND, WHERE WE HEARD SO MUCH SADNESS, FEAR, AND ANXIETY. OVER THE PAST 48 HOURS WE’VE SPOKEN TO FAMILIES THAT HAVE BECOME PARALYZED BY THE SUDDEN PRESENCE OF ICE IN THEIR LIVES. THE DETAINMENTS HAVE UPENDED EVERYTHING – NOT JUST THE LIVES OF THE PEOPLE AT STEWART, BUT THAT OF EVERYONE AROUND THEM.

THEY’RE IN A FORM OF PURGATORY- A WAITING ROOM WITH NO SET TIMES AND NO CLEAR NEXT STEPS.

BUT VERONICA AND HER FIANCE ARE BUCKING THE SYSTEM – IT MIGHT LOOK LIKE GIVING UP. AND MAYBE IT IS. IT’S TRAGIC TO HAVE TO LOSE IT ALL, TO BE PERSECUTED, TO LEAVE YOUR LIFE BEHIND.

BUT IT’S A CHOICE – A CHOICE MADE BY THEM.

JULIETA MARTINELLI: AS THE DAY WRAPS AND OUR WEEKEND AT EL REFUGIO COMES TO AN END, FAMILIES BEGIN TO MAKE THEIR WAY HOME. I CATCH MY BREATH OUTSIDE FOR A MINUTE, AND SPOT ONE OF THE VOLUNTEERS DOING THE SAME.

IT’S MCKENZIE, THE YOUNGEST VOLUNTEER HERE THIS WEEKEND AT JUST 21.

JULIETA MARTINELLI: I WONDER LIKE HOW THAT FEELS FOR YOU WHEN THE WEEKENDS ARE DRAWING TO A CLOSE. I KNOW IT’S PROBABLY ALSO EMOTIONALLY TAXING.

MCKENZIE: I THINK IT’S NICE TO HAVE THE PEOPLE COME THROUGH AND TO JUST SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE WE’RE REALLY HELPING BY BEING ABLE TO KEEP THE HOUSE OPEN AND LIKE VOLUNTEERING HERE, EVEN JUST TO SET OUT THE STUFF FOR LUNCH OR MAKE UP THE BEDS. OTHERWISE THEY’D JUST BE SITTING IN THE PARKING LOT, YOU KNOW, WAITING FOR HOURS AND HOURS.

JULIETA MARTINELLI: MCKENZIE IS A STUDENT AT SPELMAN, A HISTORICALLY BLACK WOMEN’S COLLEGE IN ATLANTA. WITH A RICH TRADITION OF CIVIC INVOLVEMENT AND COMMUNITY ACTIVISM. MCKENZIE BEGAN VISITING DETAINEES AT STEWART EARLIER THIS YEAR.

MCKENZIE: I THINK THAT’S LIKE ONE OF THE REASONS WHY MY FIRST VISIT WAS SO IMPORTANT TO ME. THE FIRST PERSON THAT I VISITED BEING A BLACK WOMAN, IT SURPRISED ME BECAUSE SEEING THAT WAS LIKE, OH, THIS IS NOT WHAT I EXPECTED AN IMMIGRANT TO LOOK LIKE.

AND I THINK BECAUSE OF THE WAY THAT IMMIGRATION’S TALKED ABOUT, IT’S LIKE, OH, IT MUST ONLY BE HISPANIC PEOPLE AND THEN TO SEE THAT, NO, THIS IS ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, A MUCH BIGGER ISSUE. IT AFFECTS PEOPLE FROM ALL DIFFERENT WALKS OF LIFE. I THINK SOME PEOPLE THINK THIS ISN’T SOMETHING I NEED TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT, IT’S NOT IN MY COMMUNITY IT DOESN’T AFFECT ME. IT DOESN’T AFFECT PEOPLE THA OUTLOOK LIKE ME. BUT WHEN YOU COME HERE. LIKE THERE’S WHITE PEOPLE, THERE’S BLACK PEOPLE, THERE’S HISPANIC PEOPLE, YOU’VE GOT YOUR EUROPEANS.RUSSIANS. EVERYONE’S HERE.

JULIETA MARTINELLI: SHE’S RIGHT. THIS WEEKEND MORE THAN 60 PEOPLE VISITED EL REFUGIO. FAMILIES FROM 8 COUNTRIES – SPEAKING A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT LANGUAGES. WHILE WE ONLY HEARD THE STORIES OF A HANDFUL OF FAMILIES IN THIS PIECE, WE SPOKE WITH DOZENS – MOST TOO AFRAID TO SHARE PUBLICLY WHAT THEY’RE EXPERIENCING OUT OF FEAR OF REPERCUSSIONS FROM THE TRUMP ADMIN.

MCKENZIE: SO I THINK THAT IT’S JUST A GOOD REMINDER THAT THIS IS A VERY DIVERSE AND COMPLICATED ISSUE, BUT THAT ULTIMATELY COMING UP WITH A BETTER SOLUTION – WITH A BETTER SYSTEM THAT’S MORE INCLUSIVE-  BENEFITS ALL OF US.

JULIETA MARTINELLI: AND REALLY, AT THE END OF THE DAY, THAT’S WHY WE CHOSE TO COME HERE. BECAUSE WHAT’S HAPPENING INSIDE THIS PLACE – HIDDEN AWAY IN A TINY RURAL TOWN IN THE SOUTH JUST A COUPLE MILES FROM AN IMMIGRATION DETENTION CENTER-  IS BIGGER THAN THIS HOUSE.

IN A WAY THE STORIES WE HEARD AT EL REFUGIO ARE JUST A REFLECTION OF THE TRAUMA, THE CHAOS AND THE CHALLENGES FACING PEOPLE ACROSS THE NATION.

AT A MOMENT WHERE IT CAN FEEL HARD TO MAKE SENSE OF REALITY – OF THE LAW, OF HOW POWER IS WIELDED, OF THE WAYS THAT WE CAN TURN ORN EACH OTHER- EL REFUGIO STANDS AS A REMINDER. OF THE WAYS IN WHICH PEOPLE CAN CHOOSE TO COME TOGETHER.

MARIA HINOJOSA: WE REACHED OUT TO CORECIVIC REGARDING SOME OF THE CLAIMS WE HEARD FROM FAMILIES OF DETAINEES ABOUT CONDITIONS AT THE DETENTION CENTER.

A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE ORGANIZATION SUBMITTED A LENGTHY RESPONSE REFUTING ALL CLAIMS, INCLUDING THAT THE CLAIMS WERE QUOTE “UNFOUNDED AND NOT AN ACCURATE REPRESENTATION OF STEWART DETENTION CENTER TODAY.”

MARIA HINOJOSA: THIS EPISODE WAS PRODUCED BY JULIETA MARTINELLI, WITH REPORTING FROM SHANNON HEFFERNAN AND EDITED BY MITRA BONSHAHI. WITH EDITING SUPPORT FROM PENILEY RAMIREZ AND TOM MEAGHER. IT IS A COLLABORATION BETWEEN LATINO USA, FUTURO INVESTIGATES AND THE MARSHALL PROJECT. IT WAS MIXED BY JULIA CARUSO AND LEAH SHAW DAMERON.

FACT CHECKING FOR THIS EPISODE BY ROXANA AGUIRRE.

FERNANDA ECHAVARRI IS OUR MANAGING EDITOR.

SPECIAL THANKS TO THE DOZENS OF FAMILIES WHO SHARED SO MUCH WITH US DURING OUR VISIT TO EL REFUGIO …

THE LATINO USA TEAM ALSO INCLUDES: REBECA IBARRA, REYNALDO LEAÑOS JR., STEPHANIE LEBOW, LUIS LUNA, GLORIMAR MARQUEZ, MONICA MORALES-GARCIA, JJ QUERUBIN, ADREANNA RODRIGUEZ, AND NANCY TRUJILLO.

PENILEY RAMIREZ AND I ARE EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS

I’M YOUR HOST MARIA HINOJOSA.

LATINO USA IS PART OF I-HEART’S MY CULTURA PODCAST NETWORK. EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS AT IHEART ARE LEO GOMEZ AND ARLENE SANTANA.

JOIN US AGAIN NEXT TIME AND IN THE MEANTIME, YOU CAN FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

AND DON’T FORGET TO JOIN FUTURO+ TO LISTEN AD-FREE AND GET BONUS EPISODES AND SPECIAL VIRTUAL EVENTS. BY JOINING, YOU’LL SUPPORT THE KIND OF REPORTING THAT MAKES EPISODES LIKE THIS ONE POSSIBLE! SO THANK YOU!

CIAO!

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