Bella Update - Freedom on Bond

[lala_rawraw]

Hi all:

For those of you new to this tragic tale, please see the following posts:
Bella Update V: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...
and the last update: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

---

Bella had her hearing today with an immigration judge. There was no debate. The prosecutor had nothing to say and no charges were presented. It was quick and to the point. Bella was released on a 5, 000 bond. She will have to appear in court at some point later, but most everyone agrees that will be routine. So over a month, major legal bills and a 5k bond later, Bella is released from detention without ever having been charged. She is released after having been denied her heart medication, after having been moved in shackles face down on the floor of a van for several hours, after sleeping on a piss stained floor, and finally, after nearly being moved without reason to Atlanta, GA. She has lost nearly a month of salary. Mostly, she has been made to feel a target in this country for doing nothing.

My mother and her mother are on their way to Krome to pay the fee and then they have to drive to Monroe to get her. Sometime late this evening, Bella will be home.

She does not know the work that we all did on her behalf, but she will. In the end, it was our efforts in contacting local authorities, and members of Congress that put pressure on the immigration office to give her a hearing, even as others waited. It was our efforts and the efforts of Congressman Wexler and Congresswoman Deb Wasserman-Shultz that got Bella in front of a judge.

So my family and I thank you all for everything. I would like to thank all of you for your moral support as well. There were a few days I nearly lost my mind. I managed to work even with this going on, which was no easy task. But it was largely do to your moral support and kind words that gave me energy.

But, we are not done. Bella is free, but company Bella is not nor is any other person being held in America's latest fad of detention camps. Operation return to sender must be stopped, habeas corpus must be reinstated, and those detained must be either charged with a crime and allowed a speedy trial or let go. Until such point as this President declares the Constitution is formally null and void, his signing statements mean nothing. His Congressional fluffers and their bills are unconstitutional and must be challenged.

If we do not continue to fight for these people, then in the end, there will be no one to fight for us, because in the end, we will all suffer the consequences of a society that functions on the Stalinist doctrine.

We all have day jobs. We all have other responsibilities, but we must organize a grass roots effort to find out who these people are, men, women, and children... what their names are, why they are being held, and if they have legal representation. This is going on all over the country. I am alarmed that people have not noticed their neighbors disappear. I am alarmed that I have not noticed. But this is real and it is serious. Google operation "return to sender" and after you have regained emotional footing, help stop what can only be described as un-American, 1930's Germany-like, illegal detainment of innocent people, most legal residents, and many who have never broken the law at all, not even to steal a ham sandwich.

[babylonsister]

1. lala, I'm really happy to read Bella is coming home!

I'm ashamed of my country for actions such as this, but it's great news.

[lala_rawraw]

2. thank you... i feel

as though i have been holding my breath. i have not cried at all, but i think i may need to just cut loose. here are more of the huggles for ya:

[nam78_two]

3. I am so glad she is free

But thats terrible about all those other women.

But this is so bizarre-I just can't wrap my head around it.

They said NOTHING about why they did this to her

How the hell can they do this to people ?

[stellanoir]

4. Amen

I am so-o-o relieved for you and your family and especially Bella. May she heal up from this ordeal in short order.

[Hissyspit]

5. So glad to hear this, Larisa. Was there

any protest to the judge on her lack of medical treatment and abuse?

[lala_rawraw]

7. no, it was really fast...

the prosecution had literally no case and no charges, so the judge simply let her go on bond. it is all very strange frankly, perhaps this is how the gov is now raising money. it makes no sense to me at all.

[Hissyspit]

26. Hmm. Seems to me it is this goverment's version of the Inquisition.

Intimidation tactics. I could be wrong, of course.

[Raksha]

31. What's are you saying, Larisa? "How the government raises money?"

You know what that's called, don't you? This is the new, improved high-tech version of the old medieval custom of holding people for ransom!!! Kidnapping them and holding them for ransom. Oh yeah, it's a guaranteed fund-raiser, all right as long as the individual has one other person in the world who cares whether they live or die. Bunch of fucking pirates...so is THIS how they plan to finance the tax cuts for the upper 1%...hold helpless immigrants for ransom?

[lala_rawraw]

6. kick it up folks

so those following this don't miss it if they are at work and such

[shance]

8. What about a lawsuit Lala?

She was held without having any charges filed against her, no heart medication and it cost her $5,000.00?

What kind of justice is that? Midevil maybe.

Thank you for the update - Im glad to know she's okay and has been released.

[lala_rawraw]

10. I don't know...

Let's get her home first and then look at it. I am not an attorney, but I think it will in the end be her choice. I don't know what condition she will be in when the moms (her mom and mine) pick her up tonight. They had to go to savings to pay for all of this. If there is a lawsuit, I will let you know.

[nam78_two]

11. What did they actually say at the hearing?

Didn't they have to at least acknowledge an error??

[myrna minx]

9. Thank you so much for the update.

I'm glad that she's finally safe with her family.

[Cheney Killed Bambi]

12. Yay!

I'm so glad for the update!

Give Bella a from us.

Is a civil suit possible? Or is that out of the question?

[nicknameless]

13. Thank you for keeping us updated on this outrage.

I'm so glad to hear that she's going home.

That the prosecutors were corrupt goes without saying.
But I'm shocked to hear that the judge didn't react in horror/dismay/anger.

Appalling beyond the pale.

I look forward to hearing that the rest of her company is freed and some sort of suit is won against these bastards.

[glitch]

14. Thank you for continuing this on the behalf of the others who may not have

family and friends to support them. Hug Bella for all of us (it may take awhile )

[Marnieworld]

15. I am so happy that Bella will be coming home.

I have been following this and I have been shocked and outraged at her treatment. It's horrifying.I can't even believe now that she had to pay bail after not getting charged with anything. I mean, don't they base bail on the crime charged? Anyway, keep us posted and hang in there.

[bleever]

16. Very happy for you.

What has happened to our country?

I hope she recovers quickly from this awful ordeal.

[mmonk]

17. Great news.

I've been holding my breath waiting for word. I can only imagine your relief and that of the family.

[readmoreoften]

18. Thank Goodness!!! But this is not over.

The government should not be able to detain without charges, steal $5000 from, and deny medical access or one month's salary to a permanent resident of the US.

Are we at the point where we are merely glad that a member of our society isn't tortured, killed, or "deported" to a foreign country after they are taken custody for no good reason?

This isn't "alls well that ends well."

[mmonk]

37. As long as it continues, justice is on the ropes. That's true.

[Cheney Killed Bambi]

19. Kick

[Karenina]

20. Bella is the canary in the coal mine.

DJ cue up Buffalo Springfield. I am so happy our prayers were answered.

[bear425]

21. k/r. So happy to hear she's being allowed to go home.

Our country is forever changed by the power that has it in its grip. This horrific experience is more evidence of that. I'm sorry for Bella, you and your family to have to endure this.

[Jack Rabbit]

22. Wonderful news

There's going to be some bounce in my step for the rest of the day over this.

[Ellipsis]

23. Good news!

May all go well.

[Roland99]

24. Good news from a bad situation that NEVER should have happened!

[midnight]

25. We are now targets for made up reasons. If we want to spend

thousands of dollars we can have some rights respected. Were do we start to address these grievances?

[lukery]

27. great news lala. n/t

[CoffeeCat]

28. I don't understand...

Isn't "Operation Return to Sender" a program to return illegal immigrants back to their home countries?

I don't agree with rounding anyone up and deporting them, but I'm wondering what "Operation Return to Sender" has to do with Bella. Is she an immigrant? I ask this question, because I'm wondering who our government is rounding up and arresting. Are they arresting legal US citizens or anyone who looks like they could be an immigrant...or people who they deem are here legally?

I find any "round up" incredibly dangerous and suspect--considering the motives of this administration--and their penchant for torture.

It's not coincidence that BushCo mouthpieces in right-wing radio spent a great deal of time this Spring and Summer--demonizing Hispanics and other immigrants. It was non stop and it was deliberate. I wondered why this was happening, and not maybe some answers are becoming more clear. Furthermore, CNN is currently running a feature investigation on the US population over explosion. The piece blames immigrants for creating havoc and chaos in America.

Thousands have been detained. Where are those people now? We need to know.

[Raksha]

32. From what Larisa has told us, they seem to be targeting legal residents,

green card holders who are not U.S. citizens. She said earlier there were no ILLEGAL immigrants in "Company Bella." So whatever the point of this nefarious program is, it has nothing to do with cracking down on illegal immigrants.

Re >>I don't agree with rounding anyone up and deporting them, but I'm wondering what "Operation Return to Sender" has to do with Bella. Is she an immigrant? I ask this question, because I'm wondering who our government is rounding up and arresting. Are they arresting legal US citizens or anyone who looks like they could be an immigrant...or people who they deem are here legally?<<

They don't seem to be targeting any particular ethnic group either. Bella and her family are Ukrainian Jews, which is my background also. However, my family got off the boat three generations ago, when the words at the base of the Statue of Liberty were still true.

[Tigress DEM]

40. Taking LEGAL immigrants first is Voter Disenfranchisement.

FEAR tactics used on a group who is vunerable to being manipulated into voting against their own best interst or into not voting at all for fear of retribution.

Someone who emmigrated to this country and has gone through the long process of becoming legal here are strong opponnents to what *ushco is doing to this country because it goes against everything they had to learn to finish the process.

Short sweet and simple, legal immigrants are NOT going to be voting publican.

Just like the "felon purge" in FL they are trying any way possible to gain an advantage so they can hide their cheating because the numbers they are up against are mind boggling.

The legal immigrants in this Bella deal all had some legal problems in their history, but it was not anything that had previously been serious enough to deny them their status as legal immigrants.

NOW I may be stupid here in one way, maybe this group isn't all made up of people who have earned the right to vote. But the felon purge snagged everyone with a name that was the same as a felon - or any of the false names they used, like John Smith for example.

So, if la migra thinks it's too much hard work to pick up all the illegals because that requires investigation and burden of proof... then just put together a list and if you get lucky and the Jorge Pena you pick up really doesn't have his papers in line, then it's like catching lobster while fishing for mackrel. Toss it in the boat and don't tell the inspector.

*ushco only likes big brazen moves that defy logic and cause mayhem and confusion.

[readmoreoften]

43. Operation Return to Sender in a nutshell.

is, theoretically, a program designed to send hardened criminal (murderers and uncle-rapers) back to their countries of origin-- even if they have a green card. What's happening is they are rounding up (without charges) permanent residents who have been here since childhood if, say in 1975, they got busted smoking marijuana or stole a candybar back when they were a teenager. Larisa told us that one of Bella's cellmates was taken and threatened with deportation over a minor marijuana charge from back in 1989. They just took her and put her children in foster care. Some family values.

[ninkasi]

29. I am so glad for Bella

and for you and the rest of your family who worked so hard to get her out. It's truly a disgrace that under Bush, so many liberties have been lost, and so many underhanded tactics have been used. I agree, there are probably others like Bella, who might not have the moral support, and a family who is willing to fight for them. These are dark days, indeed, for America.

[emlev]

30. Best wishes to Bella on her recovery, and folks: please post action ideas!

As you figure out what to do to help the others still being held, please let DU know so we can join in.

I myself am up way past my ears working on election integrity and can't lead on this issue, but will follow if some of you take the lead!

[Richard Steele]

33. Well that's certainly good news!

[Suich]

34. So glad to hear it, Larisa!

Give Bella a hug for me!

[bananas]

36. Hugs for Bella!

And for Larisa!

[Kurovski]

35. K&R.

You're a good, good person LaLa.

Thank you.

[DoYouEverWonder]

38. Good news

One thing she might consider doing is to go to an MD or hospital for a physical evaluation. Let them document what meds she was supposed to be taking and why. Also, they can document her account of her treatment while she was being held. It is important to have an official record of her physical condition when she was released, especially if she wants to pursue the abuse issues.

Good luck.

[lala_rawraw]

39. Update, you cannot make this shit up...

The mothers went to Krome to pay the bill... they were told that they needed a money order, so they went to the post office, got a money order, went back to Krome to pay, their computers were down. So, the mothers have to go to Krome today in order to pay the bill, again, and then drive to Monroe in the Keys to pick her up. This is assuming that the computers will work today. Does this remind anyone else of Brazil (the film)? I mean we are this great nation and we cannot release someone we have held in custody without charge because we can't pull them up on the computer? How about calling the other facility and saying, "hey, you got a Bella Maryanovsky there" and then say "okay, I have the 5k in hand, let her go." You know, something like that... we did have government before computers, no?

Bastards... so, let's celebrate this later in the day, because I refuse to go through being happy anymore until she is in my arms, safe and sound!

[Tigress DEM]

42. Unfricken believeable.

It gives me the creepy feeling I had watching The Piano Player when the Gestahpo came thru.

Creepy how their "incompetence" only hurts the poor, or blacks, or political opponents, while the rich seem to flouish under this administration's "incompetent bumbling."

[SPKrazy]

44. Damn It! Does It End?

hopefully tomorrow it ends Larisa!

God Bless you!

[Cheney Killed Bambi]

45. It is surreal

You have a court order to release it, but they can't even get their act together to enforce it. So she languishes in the meantime Talk about a nightmare. Brazil indeed!

[mmonk]

46. Oh brother.

No, you can't make that shit up.

[Tigress DEM]

41. Has ANY ONE in MSM been made aware of this miscarriage of justice?

Olbermann is doing a show on the DEATH of Habeas Corpus tonight.

Maybe this could be a follow up piece.