MPR news interview: A volunteer at the Whipple Building receiving released detainees
This is unfathomable!
The woman on the radio is overwhelmed and exhausted. She helps organize volunteers and created "Haven Watch".
They meet people at the gate after they are released. www.havenwatch.org
Often times they are crying, shaking, cold, hungry... you name it. They have been significantly traumatized.
They don't have their belonging and can't even call someone to come get them. They have been sleeping on concrete and shackled. She has seen pregnant women with marks on their pregnant bellies from chains.
The volunteers wait for detainees to be released 24/7, unannounced. They provide a warm vehicle, clothing, a phone, a hug and maybe someone that speaks their language. They do whatever they can.
Their need is immediate, yet the aftercare is even more overwhelming. Where is their car, did they get evicted from their home, how to get in without their keys? They need people to do their laundry and make food runs, they can't risk being outside. They need to replace their ID and they need attorneys. They need trauma counselors.
The detention center in Texas is even worse she said. No one has organized to meet them there. Many are from out of state with no way of getting back. They don't have their ID, money, phone etc. The woman on the radio pleaded for their situation and an organization must be created in Texas!
Her organization in Minnesota is called Haven Watch. She said she is overwhelmed with emails and can't respond to most, yet is grateful for the response.
I suggest just show up on-site to help, if you can. My heart is broken from listening to that report today.
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