OWLS Board offers donation match to APANO for Sheridan asylees

The OWLS Special Committee on Family Separation and Child Detention has an opportunity for you to participate in the local effort to support the asylum-seekers brought to the federal prison at Sheridan. We have gotten the OWLS Board to donate to the fund managed by APANO, as a matching fund to encourage your donations. This fund provides commissary funds to the men while they are in detention, and funds for clothing and basic necessities when they are released.

The Board has donated $850 to the fund this week. Now, we’d love to see that doubled through your donations. If you’ve wondered how you can help, if you don’t speak a foreign language fluently, don’t practice immigration law, don’t live in the northern Willamette Valley… know that your donation, however seemingly small, is working with the donations of other OWLS to make a real difference in the lives of these asylum-seekers.

Click here to donate. And, thank you, for this and for everything you do.

Maya Crawford Peacock
Kathryn Olney
Co-Chairs, OWLS Special Committee on Family Separation and Child Detention

Update on Sheridan and volunteer needs from APANO

Currently, about 43 of the men are still at Sheridan. The remainder have been released, transferred, or have elected to return home! (This information is coming from the Federal Public Defenders Office). APANO has been able to transfer $100 in each of the commissary accounts of the majority of the 79 asylees that Innovational Law Lab and the Federal Public Defenders Office is representing (over $8,000 total).

The ACLU and Innovation Law Lab recently wrote up a great summary of the collaborative response to Sheridan.

We still need your help with financial donations to support the currently detained asylees with their commissary accounts and help the released reconnect with family. You can donate here (www.apano.org/sheridan).

You can also donate gift cards, calling cards, and Tracfones. As of now, the released asylees need gift cards (Walmart, Target) to purchase clothing that will fit them, and they need phones (Tracfones) with calling cards to connect with family. You can deliver these items to the APANO Office (2788 SE 82nd Ave., Suite 203, 97266). If you do decide to donate these items, please fill out this form indicating the number and amount so we all know how many items to expect and when we have reached our capacity.

Thank you to everyone who has already donated their time, energy, goods, and money.

With love and courage,

Jai Singh Field Organizer, APANO
photo Mobile: 503.688.0776
Email: jai@apano.org
Address: 2788 SE 82nd Ave Suite 203, Portland, OR 97266
Pronouns: He, Him, His

Sheridan Update

Eight of the asylum seekers detained at the federal prison in Sheridan, Oregon were released on bond this week. More detained immigrants are expected to be released on bond in the coming days. Five of the men released spoke at a press conference today, August 22 at 11 am. You can watch the video at on the Innovation Law Lab Facebook Page.

Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon (APANO) is seeking volunteers for Sheridan Post-Detention Respite Network

APANO’s is committed to coordinating a robust network of respite shelter/housing and to crowdsource resources for the continued representation of all of the detained peoples at FDC Sheridan. Upon their release, our detained peoples will need medical care, housing, clothing, transportation assistance, toiletries, meals, and other resources, in order to be able to heal and gain strength for their immigration advocacy fights ahead.

Please fill out the volunteer form to assist with the respite network and an APANO South Asian Sheridan Support Committee Member or Field Organizer will be in touch with you.

Good News from Sheridan!

Today Innovation Law Lab announced that 74 of the 80 individuals it is representing detained at Sheridan received favorable outcomes at credible fear interviews.  One individual opted to be voluntarily removed, and five decisions were still pending.

In addition, Innovation Law Lab has secured continuing access to clients with the help of a preliminary injunction issued by Judge Michael Simon.

Read all about it, here.

Fund set up for Sheridan detainees’ commissary, post-release needs

Our friends at APANO (Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon) are raising money to put into commissary accounts for each of the asylum-seekers detained at the federal prison in Sheridan. These funds allow the men to purchase personal care items, snacks, and phone calls. The funds will also be used to purchase items they need on that happy day when they are released. You can donate to this fund here: http://www.apano.org/sheridan

Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon (APANO) – Petition to release Sheridan detainees pending resolution of their legal proceedings

Link to petitions being circulated by APANO (Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon), urging our elected officials to advocate for the release of the detainees currently being held in the federal prison in Sheridan, pending final resolution of their legal proceedings: https://secure.everyaction.com/5_-5NZR16EiWJqvUsck6kg2?eType=EmailBlastContent&eId=b2bf9ce6-94c1-488f-aa3b-f328514d41d6.

It only takes a few minutes to sign. APANO is hoping for 5,000 signatures.