It is clear to see that yours is an impassioned response to the terrible plight of the most vulnerable immigrants with a strong desire to protect, Erie. Thank you for having the courage to speak out for human rights and reminding us of our nation’s promise.
My friend Diane and her daughter (who is a lawyer) left for the Dilley detention center in Texas last week to volunteer and help support detainees as well as to provide advocacy. Each day Diane provides an update as to what she is witnessing. I admire all the volunteers’ courage, to take action and to become entirely immersed in the suffering of these families and to listen with the heart of love.
I wanted to share two of Diane’s poignant posts:
Dilley Family Detention: Day 2
I just returned to the “Visita De Abogados” interview room to find the young man (22) I have been partnering with, in tears. He tells me, “this one got to me, I’ve been trying to keep it out, but this one got me”. We just had to tell a woman something that her 14-year-old son could not. The details of how MS18 gang members threatened to kill her if he did not join them. And then he would be killed, like his cousin a few years before. We have interviewed the boy by himself – but she has to know – so that when she goes before the Asylum Officer tomorrow, she will be able to tell the entire story. There is a slim chance that she could be granted asylum – but not the boy. The reasoning is beyond anything I can even begin to say. Hug your family.
Dilley: Day 3
Today I start a Crayola Crisis! While we were interviewing a woman with his young son, the boy became restless. I was able to get a small box of crayons and a few pages torn from a coloring book from one of the attendants.
After the interview, I kept the crayons and extra pages in case I needed them with other clients.
Another little boy around 8 years old saw them in my hand and asked to color. I sat him in front of a plastic chair so he could use the seat as a surface to color on. In a few moments another child came to the visiting area, and wanted to share. Soon both children went to the children’s waiting area, (a room with a TV and chairs but no toys or coloring supplies.
Within minutes a stream of little ones came looking for me for crayons – and – at that point I had to send them to the attendant at the desk. This may not sound like a big deal, but as volunteers at CARA, we have to be extremely careful not to cause problems. Luckily, the attendant was a patient young woman who continued to hand out Crayola’s.
My little 8 year old artist became my buddy for the rest of the morning, following me around and having other children ask me for coloring book pages. I handed out what I had.
Thirty minutes or so passed without being asked for more supplies. I was sitting in an interview room. — And out of nowhere, my buddy appeared, ran up to me and threw his arms around me, giving me a huge hug. I held my breath. There are camera’s everywhere and we are not allowed to even touch a client other than to shake hands.
This little moment of pure connection, though prohibited, was the most liberating moment of my time at the detention center. Human touch, kindness and the joyful smile of a child, transcend all ugliness and inhumanity. All because of a Crayola Crisis.

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