“On Tuesday June 26, I attended a hearing for 5 men detained in the recent Mt. Pleasant Raid. The experience confirmed something many already know, that ICE makes people disappear without due process. The courtroom was overflowing with supporters, both family members and allies. The federal prosecuting attorney said that 2 of the 5 detainees had not shown up for court. She said she didn’t know where they are and asked that warrants be issued for their arrests. They may be in ICE custody, she said, she couldn’t say for sure. Said it wasn’t her responsibility to get them to court.
Public record shows that the 2 men are being detained in the Hardin County Jail. Is there any way the prosecuting attorney didn’t know this? Most likely she was lying. If indeed, she wasn’t lying, she could have easily procured this information. It’s not very difficult. I checked the major Eastern Iowa detention center roster and found that they are being in the Hardin Co Jail. My feeling is that ICE is delaying their court appearance because this judge had previously stated, that with so much community support he was considering releasing at least one of the two men so that he could be with his son. I felt enormous grief for the cruelty and corruption in our system, and also experienced the joy of being surrounded by brave family members and supporters from Davenport, Mt Pleasant, and Iowa City.
By Aaron Silander (CWJ Allies )