Detained B.C. mother describes ‘terrifying’ conditions in Texas immigration facility
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/b-c-woman-detained-in-texas-detention-centre-for-2-weeks-9.7146589
Detained B.C. mother describes ‘terrifying’ conditions in Texas immigration facility
Tania Warner says she and her 7-year-old daughter are being held despite having pending immigration paperwork
A B.C. mother detained with her seven-year-old at an immigration holding facility in Texas is warning others about the risks of navigating the U.S. immigration system under the current administration.
Tania Warner, originally from Penticton, B.C., has been in custody for two weeks after she and her daughter, Ayla Lucas, were stopped at a U.S. border checkpoint while returning home to Kingsville, Texas.
The two were on their way home from a baby shower in Raymondville on March 14, and had to stop at a mandatory border patrol checkpoint in Sarita, just south of their home city.
It was something they had done before without any issues, as U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) operates dozens of interior checkpoints along major highways near the U.S.-Mexico border.
Tania says the trip quickly turned into “the worst day of our lives.”
The mother and daughter were apprehended and held at the Central Processing Center, known as "Ursula" — the largest CBP detention facility — for five days. They've since been moved to the Dilley Immigration Processing Center in Dilley, Texas.
Their experience, particularly at the Ursula holding facility in McAllen, Tania says, was “absolutely terrifying.”
“Horrible prison conditions,” she told CBC News in a phone interview from Dilley.
“No place for a child in any way, shape or form,” she added. “McAllen is a sensory deprivation chamber. There's no windows, there's no light, you can't tell if it's day or night.”
Conditions at U.S. detention centres have previously been criticized by human rights organizations and advocacy groups, including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International.
Tania says her daughter, who is on the autism spectrum, struggled with the environment and later developed a rash she believes was caused by exposure to cleaning chemicals at the facility,
She says she repeatedly sought medical help for the rash and her daughter's needs, but felt her concerns were dismissed.
“It wasn't until I had a full on meltdown about my daughter's safety … that they finally transferred us here to Dilley.”
The processing centre at Dilley is considered more family-friendly, and while Tania says the days are structured, it’s still quite restrictive.
'Unlawfully detained,' mother says
Tania has been living in the U.S. for about five years. She initially moved to Texas on a visitor visa to be with her partner Edward Warner. They got married about three years ago and she later obtained a work visa.
Tania applied for her work permit and her permanent residency independently, and she adds that U.S. immigration authorities had acknowledged her green card application and issued what is known as a prima facie, which would allow her to stay in the U.S. while her application is processed.
“Never in a million years did I think that I would get detained and thrown in jail," she said.
“I have a formal piece of paper that says you’re allowed to be here … we were unlawfully detained."
Growing concern back home
Independent MLA for Penticton-Summerland Amelia Boultbee says it is deeply concerning to see someone from her community being held in a U.S. detention centre, and she is advocating for the mother and daughter’s release.
“Tania is from Penticton, actually three generations back of her family, so when she was detained it was big news here,” she said.
Boultbee says Penticton would welcome Tania and her family back into the community “with open arms.”
Democratic Texas Congressman Vicente Gonzalez has previously said Tania has a valid work permit and should not be in detention, and is calling for her and Ayla's immediate release.
Tania has a bond hearing scheduled for Tuesday and she believes it could be set at up to $10,000.
She says one option she has is voluntary deportation, but the lack of information about the process has added to her anxiety.
“It would be the financial burden to restart again, somehow,” she added. “My life is here [in Texas] … this is the only home my daughter has known.”
The experience, however, has changed how she views staying in the U.S. and is urging others to reconsider immigration plans.
“If there are people that are immigrating, they may want to consider pulling out,” she said.
Tania said many detainees are not criminals, but simply people navigating complex immigration processes, including those with pending applications.
“I’m scared … for myself, my daughter and others.”
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services told CBC News to contact U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for comment.
CBC has not received any response from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security or ICE.
With files from Akshay Kulkarni
No comments:
Post a Comment