Email from Joshua Bardavid, Esq.
Hi All:
I have been receiving many telephone calls of individual Americans outraged by the detention of the Hazahza family, as well as the existence of the T. Don Hutto prison and asking how to help. One of the
things I am suggesting is a letter writing campaign. I encourage everyone to write letters expressing their outrage. Below is a sample letter if people want to use as a template to write their own:
John P. TORRES
US-ICE Headquarters
Post-Order Detention Unit
801 I Street NW, Suite 900
Washington, DC 20536
RE: Radi HAZAHZA, A95-219-510
Mirvat HAZAHZA, A95-219-508
Hisham HAZAHZA, A95-219-507
Suzan HAZAHZA, A95-219-506
Ahmad HAZAHZA, A95-219-505
Dear Mr. Torres,
I am writing on behalf of Mr. Radi Hazahza and his four children held in prison at the Rolling Plains Detention Facility.
I strongly believe that the Hazahza family should be released immediately from the detention
center, so they can be reunited with Nazmieh Juma (wife to Radi and mother of the children) as well as Mohammad Hazahza, the eleven year old
child that ICE already released from prison.
The Hazahza family has been awaiting deportation since being ordered removed in 2002, yet there is no possibility of removal since both Jordan and the Palestinian Authorities have confirmed that travel
documents will not be issued for them.
The Hazahzas are asylum seekers who sought freedom and safety in the United States. They have provided the government proof of employment offers, as well as extensive ties to the United States including Mirvat
Hazahza’s U.S. citizen husband and Suzan Hazahza’s U.S. citizen fiancé.
In addition, several sponsors have stepped forward to ensure the Hazahza’s appearance upon demand by the government and to ensure that they obey any terms of supervised release.
The Hazahza’s continued detention costs taxpayers over $600.00 per day, as estimated by the government. That means that, to date, at least
$60,000 in government funds have been turned over to the Emerald Corporation, the private company that owns the jail in Haskell. This amount does not include the money spent on litigation and other expenses
related to the continued detention.
This detention is a waste of taxpayer money, particularly since the Hazahzas present no danger to society, have provided suitable alternatives to detention, and there is no purpose in continued detention as there is no likelihood of obtaining travel documents.
Please release Mr. Hazahza and his family from the Rolling Plains prison.
Sincerely,
cc: U.S. Customs & Immigration Enforcement
Attn: Officer Kelvin Meridith
8101 North Stemmons Freeway
Dallas, Texas 75247