Come Support A Detained Asylum Seeker!
On the morning of May 12th, Nafiou Lamidi, a 35 year old asylum seeker who has been living in the Northeast Kingdom reported to ICE for a routine check-in at the ICE office in St. Albans, VT. He was accompanied by three friends who are members of NEKASAN, The Northeast Kingdom Asylum Seeker’s Assistance Network. The NEKASAN members were planning to show Nafiou around Burlington after his check-in, as he hadn’t had a good chance to see the area before and check-ins normally take just a few minutes.
The three NEKASAN folks have never had the pleasure of Nafiou’s company again! Neither have they nor anyone else been given any information as to why he has been incarcerated since he set foot in the St Albans ICE building for his check-in. As we have been told by him since, several days later after he had been moved to the Northwest State Correctional Facility, he had been handcuffed immediately after he went through the office door at the check-in office and has never been given any reason since as to why he is being held. When the NEKASAN folks asked why he was being held before they left St. Albans, the answer they got was that “things have changed.” In shock, the three returned to St. Johnsbury afraid of what this might mean.
As of today, May 24th, Nafiou Lamidi has been incarcerated for 13 days and has still has been given no reason for his confinement. Neither has his attorney been told anything! He has been moved yet again to the Federal Correctional Institution in Berlin, New Hampshire, and still has no idea why he is being treated as a criminal! Is this the way we do things in America? We think not!
This young man has endeared himself to many since coming to Vermont. He has connected to our community, is learning English, and is often the first one to come forward with help if there is something he can do for anyone he meets. He came here in January after being released from detention in Texas. He has a wife and three young children who he hopes to be able to bring to the U.S. eventually. Those of us who have gotten to know him and his ways feel lucky to have him here, and are hoping for the eventual success of his request for asylum, but it seems it isn’t going to be easy.
Please take the time to join us in rallying for the release of Nafiou Lamidi, who is being held in prison for reasons unknown. He needs us all right now very badly!
WE HOPE TO SEE YOU AT 10am ON SATURDAY, MAY 31st AT THE BANDSTAND PARK NEXT TO THE CALEDONIA COUNTY COURTHOUSE IN ST JOHNSBURY!
Thank you!
The Northeast Kingdom Asylum Seeker’s Assistance Network