Constantin Bakala, his wife, and seven children fled their home country of the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2016. Constantin was affiliated with a party with democratic ideals, opposing the party in power. He was tortured, she raped, and one of his relatives was murdered.
They traveled through ten countries before arriving in Mexico and presenting at the Port of Entry in November 2017. Taken into custody, his wife and children were allowed to remain in San Diego (she wearing a tracking ankle bracelet), while he was sent to detention centers on the other side of the country, in Louisiana, Virginia, Atlanta, and finally Etowah County Detention Center (otherwise know as the county jail).
He has been in detention for about fifteen months. His health is starting to decline with increased blood pressure, weight loss, and depression.
He is not allowed any personal visits. Rather, you have to go through a website (www.jailfunds.com) to schedule a video visit. So far, I have traveled to the detention center twice for video visits of twenty minutes each.
There is a commissary where he can purchase incidental items for hygiene, extra food, etc. But money must be deposited into the commissary account in order for him to avail himself of this "privilege." For the present, he has enough money in his account.
I mailed him an English-French dictionary so that he can improve his English and better understanding the proceedings of his case. It was scheduled to arrive last Saturday, but as of this morning, he had not been given the book.
There are about three hundred other detainees being kept in the detention center.
The conditions under which he is being kept would seem to violate the norms of a civilized society: separated from family, restricted communications only facilitated by paying a fee. All after his making an attempt to seek admission to the country legally under the asylum process.
Now, asylum seekers are being processed and allowed into the country. But what about those already in detention?
Constantin has technical skills and would like to contribute to society, rather than living this painful existence on the public dollar.
Whatever happened to compassion?
He has been in detention for about fifteen months. His health is starting to decline with increased blood pressure, weight loss, and depression.
He is not allowed any personal visits. Rather, you have to go through a website (www.jailfunds.com) to schedule a video visit. So far, I have traveled to the detention center twice for video visits of twenty minutes each.
There is a commissary where he can purchase incidental items for hygiene, extra food, etc. But money must be deposited into the commissary account in order for him to avail himself of this "privilege." For the present, he has enough money in his account.
I mailed him an English-French dictionary so that he can improve his English and better understanding the proceedings of his case. It was scheduled to arrive last Saturday, but as of this morning, he had not been given the book.
There are about three hundred other detainees being kept in the detention center.
The conditions under which he is being kept would seem to violate the norms of a civilized society: separated from family, restricted communications only facilitated by paying a fee. All after his making an attempt to seek admission to the country legally under the asylum process.
Now, asylum seekers are being processed and allowed into the country. But what about those already in detention?
Constantin has technical skills and would like to contribute to society, rather than living this painful existence on the public dollar.
Whatever happened to compassion?
