Bella Update III

[lala_rawraw]

Hey all, first off, thanks for all of your support. The latest is worse than I thought and I need to correct an error. Apparently ICE told Bella and her family that they were moving her to Krome, but somewhere during transport they took her to the Monroe dent ion facility, which is worse, because it is not an immigration detention center, but a criminal detention center.

During transport, bella was shackled and forced to lay on the floor of the van. She was taunted by her drivers (wait till I get their names) who said things like "your lawyer fought hard for you, and then he dropped your case" and "the judge was going to let you go home today, but too bad" or something like that. I am getting this all second-hand, but that is roughly what was said to her. They knew her lawyers name and particulars, which leaves us to wonder how drivers got a hold of her file. In any case, sometime between them leaving for Krome and arriving for Monroe, they learned that Krome had become far too overcrowded because of recent raids.

They have now given her 1 of 4 medications, but not the other three. Her legs continue to swell as are her knees. She is in low spirits and crying a great deal. She is frightened.

Today, for Yom Kippur, the holiest of Jewish holidays they would not give her any prayer books or let her see a rabbi.

She is being held in a large cell with 50-80 women (i don't have the exact number), who are all convicted of various crimes, including murder.

That is the latest. But as bad as Krome was, at least she may have seen an immigration judge. At Monroe, she is simply locked up. Tomorrow will be three weeks since she was detained without charge. The family is getting desperate as her need for meds is getting much stronger.

Thank you for all of your support. I will keep you posted, if I don't go batty first.

[JuniperLea]

1. Positive thoughts to you and your family...

Prayers, meditations... I wish there was more.

Thanks for the update.

[kerry-is-my-prez]

2. Can someone post the original post about this - many here don't know

what this is all about.

[helderheid]

3. God, Larissa - I am speechless.

[fooj]

4. This is horrible, lala.

I wish I knew what I can do to help. This is an absolute outrage and you must be SICK over it. Hell, I'm sick over it.

((((HUGS)))) to you. Let me know if there is anything you might need.

[catnhatnh]

5. Y'all got my support....

...and though I hate to suggest a commercial theme,it may be time to appeal to "a higher authority"....I no longer trust our government to do the right thing and appearently your faith has reason to fail.I think that merely because you are a journalist you may engage more fully than most with a human rights group (think amnesty international or a ACLU) not because you any longer have a legal leg to stand on in America,but more because with millions to deport it would be easier to defer her for a later moment.At very least, my best and my prayers to you and to Bella....Regards, Cat

[bleever]

6. Hang in there, la_la.

Lots of people pulling for you.

[acmejack]

7. I wish there was something concrete we could do.

This is so outrageous! There is simply no justification for the withholding of medications. It seems to a favorite tactic, as I know from sad personal experience. They always go out of their way to ensure incarceration is a terrible and humiliating experience.

Does anyone know if Bella does indeed have adequate legal representation?

[Gregorian]

8. I dearly wish her a quick release.

It's hard to fathom what this country has become.

Absolute insanity. Just a shade away from the unthinkable.

What they're doing is a crime.

[me b zola]

9. Sending my positive thoughts & prayers

Lady Liberty must be weeping

[troubleinwinter]

10. This was making me unbearibly sad, now I am fucking mad.

Does someone please have a list of all the links for these threads?

I want to send the whole story to Rep. Conyers.

We had an appreciation thread a few days ago for his wonderful staff. Let's all send it.

This isn't just a Florida issue, it relates to federal laws.

I have been shocked at the legal, medical, verbal, emotional and physical abuse Bella has been subjected to, and I am reminded that Graner (convicted Abu Graib creep) was a prison guard in civilian life.

I want to send all of the links to Conyers, then Kennedy, then Kerry, then Pelosi, then Boxer, then Feingold, and so on and so on and so on!!!!!

We will NOT tolerate this!

[bananas]

12. Some links here

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

[IChing]

11. LINKS TO THE OTHER STORY

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

[Raksha]

13. This is beyond outrageous. n/t

[mmonk]

14. Something must be done. Sorry this has happened.

I will gather links as I see them. I'm not quite familiar with all the particulars, so I'll try to read all these posts.

[Solly Mack]

15. Write the Carter Center (for Human Rights)

[e-mail] <[e-mail] >

Explain to them the situation.

It might help ...and it couldn't hurt.


In the subject put: Urgent/Active case.Human Rights violation - US

It's worth a try.

Hope it helps

[bonito]

16. kick & bookmarked

Chin up.

[Kurovski]

17. Kick.

This nation under the Republicans is an ongoing nightmare that will adversely affect all of us eventually.

I'm so sorry for all this suffering. Please take care and be mindful of your own health as well, Larisa.

[mmonk]

18. This needs monitoring

[Cheney Killed Bambi]

19. Kick

This is just awful. Anyone out there who has a blog should blog about this.

[Cheney Killed Bambi]

21. kick

[DoYouEverWonder]

20. This is unbelievable

Hang in there.

[3waygeek]

22. I didn't know about ICE

until I watched HDNet World Report last night -- one of the two stories was about ICE. If you missed it last night, it'll be on over the weekend.

[bonito]

23. Kick

[SPKrazy]

24. Kickin It For Larisa and Bella!