Beauty in resistance

January, 2025

Dear Community,

The image above is a work of art sent to us by Pablo (we are using a  pseudonym to protect his safety) while he was locked up in Batavia. This beautiful piece of art and resistance was made from materials on hand; a bed sheet, pen ink and pencils. Unfortunately, when we reached out to thank him, we learned that, after years of being locked up by ICE, he had already been deported.

While fighting his case from a cell in Batavia, NY, Pablo shared with the US Government that if he was to be deported, he would likely be incarcerated and tortured. An immigration judge, representing the US federal government, dismissed this as unrealistic and not credible and chose to deport him anyway (in violation of both federal law and the United Nations Convention Against Torture). Upon arrival in his country of deportation, Pablo was transferred by ICE officials to local authorities who immediately put him in a prison known for regular use of torture. For the past month, his family has known that he is there but has not been able to be in touch with him.

While we hold onto the beauty of the art that Pablo created, we cannot forget that he is navigating both the trauma of forced relocation that is deportation as well as the continued nightmare of indefinite incarceration, separation from loved ones, and likely torture, enabled by US immigration policy in collaboration with other violent national regimes. We lift up the creativity, the richness and the beauty that people create, and we reject and rebel against the systems that rip people out of our communities.

When we are all free, we thrive together.

This coming Monday, January 20th, we will resist and build together, again. This time around will be different from the last, to be sure, and our communities, especially our migrant communities, queer and trans communities and other targeted groups will face unimaginable terror and persecution. The next four years, and especially the next one hundred days, will require us to be steadfast and hold on close to one another.

We don’t know what is to come, but we are preparing to support one another. We know that you, as a member of our beloved JFMF community, want to and are ready to take action. We encourage you to join us for our upcoming events and actions, and to continue to uplift the spirit of resistance, creativity and care that makes our whole community strong.

Forward, pa’lante,

Justice for Migrant Families

Written by Emily Terrana and Aaron Krupp