Imprisoned immigrant workers stand up for us all

By: Attorney Maria Elena Castellanos

Editor’s notes:  The brutal treatment of immigrant workers in U.S. jails, as this article illustrates, should be of concern to everyone. This is immoral. And, depriving one group of workers of their rights sets the stage for depriving everyone of their rights.
HOUSTON, TX — David Vasquez, a labor leader and lay pastor to detained youth, was one of the leaders of a hunger strike earlier this year by up to 500 “civilian” migrant-worker detainees at the Joe Corley Detention Center, north of Houston.
The hunger-strikers protested human rights and labor-rights issues, including: low wages (paid less than 50 cents per hour); increased deportations by the Obama administration; lack of medical attention; cruel and inhumane living conditions at detention centers throughout the U.S.;  double punishment—including deportation following convictions and completed sentences; denial of opportunity to re-open old convictions which involved plea-bargains accompanied by ineffective assistance of counsel; failure of defense lawyers in criminal cases to correctly inform the immigrant defendant of the deportation consequences of a “guilty plea;” and disrespect for human rights of undocumented children and adults throughout the U.S.
The strikers’ demands and reasons for carrying out the hunger-strike, which on the last day turned into a labor-strike, were summed up in a 6 point, hand-written document after the 12-day the strike came to an end.
This was after detention authorities had cast David Vasquez and other leaders into “the hole.” This is a tomb-like chamber, poorly lit, where David Vasquez was subjected to nine days in a dark hot chamber. David was removed from “the hole” to shower after three days, but was completely bound by chains that crossed his chest and shackled his hands and feet. Throughout the 12-day period, David Vasquez was NOT allowed to do any physical exercise in the designated areas. When “human rights inspectors” investigated accusations of “torture” and “human rights violations,” the privately-employed detention administrators brought Vasquez and the other strike leaders out of their individual holes WITHOUT chains and shackles to deceive inspectors.
The lack of exercise and lengthy confinement in the hole caused great pain and diminishing muscle mass and weakness.  But David Vasquez did not break. Throughout the strike, he refused all food, drinking only water and juices. After 12 days, the strikers came to a negotiated end.  David Vasquez and the migrant-workers Defense Committee need your help. David Vasquez is facing imminent deportation.
Please contact David Benitez; coordinator of the Defense Committee; davidb010@hotmail.com; or Attorney MariaElena Castellanos, at castellanoslaw1@gmail.com; cell:  832-244-7506.