Thread by @humanrights1st

Today, our client Robin testified before the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights (@USCCRgov) to share what happened to him while he was locked behind bars.

This is his story, in his own words 👇

“In 2015 I fled my country, El Salvador, because my life was in danger. I did not know how to apply for asylum, and I did not know what would happen to me when I arrived here. But I came to the United States with the hope of being safe.”

“After I crossed the border, immigration held me in the hielera—a small cold room with more than 40 other people. We had to sit on the floor because they did not have beds or chairs. They only gave us aluminum blankets.”

“The guards shouted at us, accused us of being smugglers, and humiliated us. With 40 other people we had to strip in front of one another and put on prison clothes. The officers laughed and made fun of us.”

“After a week, the immigration officers took me and other detainees to an airport. They chained us by the hands, feet and waist. Even on the plane, we were chained.

I felt ashamed of being treated like a criminal. They did not even tell us where they were taking us.”

“When I arrived at Delaney Hall in New Jersey, the guards laughed and insulted me and the other detainees, thinking that we could not understand what they were saying in English.

A guard called me "fagot."”

“The conditions were terrible. They gave us used underwear. The meals were very small, and sometimes I was hungry. Many people got sick from the food they gave us. I remember well that meat was like eating cardboard.”

“In the detention center a detainee hurt and threatened me. I tried to tell a supervisor, but she shouted: "Speak English!" and did not even try to call an interpreter.

I had to wait two days for an official who spoke Spanish to accept my complaint.”

“Afterwards, they took me to the hospital in handcuffs and then put me in solitary confinement in the detention center, as if it were me who did something wrong. I felt very bad. I could not eat and I was shaking with fear.”

"I got very sick one night. My body was swollen. I told the guards that I needed to go to the clinic, but they did not take me, and they told me that the clinic was closed.

When the guards finally took me to the clinic, the staff did not diagnose me or treat me.”

“Shortly after being released, I fell ill again and fainted. The doctors at the hospital examined me and found out I had an infection.”

“In El Salvador I worked for a town hall and, therefore, I understand that the government is paying these detention centers to offer a service—to care for the detainees.”

“But the immigration officers and guards do not respect the rights of detainees. They treat detainees, not as if they were protected, but as if they were criminals.

Asylum seekers, like me, are not a threat, we are asking for protection.”