From Persecution to Prison - Bellevue/NYU Program for Survivors of ...

ehind and told me to sign. He physically forced me to make fingerprintsfrom behind (this man was not in uniform). I had the cuffs closeon my hand and it was very painful. When they forced my hand, myhead knocked on the door handle and cut my head. It was bleeding alot. They put a bandage on.After this interview, he reported that INS officials tried to deport himand have him carried onto a plane. In the process of being forced onto theplane, he reported that he was banged against a door and dropped on hisshoulder.They said I had to go back. At first I thought I am going to the UN…but I was taken to second terminal. They said they would put me on aplane to go back to Africa. When I saw the plane, I cry to the INS officer,if they send me back they will kill me. The INS officer said, ‘Youhave to go back!’ So I cry - I say, ‘I prefer to die here.’ So they took meback to the other terminal. One of the bosses saw me and said, ‘No, youare going back.’ So I was sent back again. I held on to the steps near theentrance of the terminal of the plane, so they took me on top ofthem. There were 4. I moved and I fell down and hurt my shoulder. Sothen they took me back.After this struggle, he reported that he was taken to a second officer,who asked him why he couldn’t go back. “I said, ‘If I tell you will you notsend me back?’ He said, ‘If you have fear in your country, the US will protect.’So I explain to him I am campaigner for my organization [in mycountry].” He subsequently remained in INS detention for approximatelytwo and a half years, after which he was ultimately granted asylum.Several individuals reported discomfort from the shackles they werekept in at the airports and while being transferred detention centers. Forexample, one detainee reported.I was being transported to the detention center. I was placed in handcuffswith chains around my arms waist and legs. They were very tight.It was painful and hard to walk. I told the guard escorting us that theywere too tight and were hurting me. He said, ‘I know you can walk,don’t bother me.’Strip SearchesSeveral individuals found particularly disturbing the strip searches theywere subjected to upon arrival. “Being strip searched and body cavitysearched was like physical abuse,” remarked one detainee.One male asylum seeker described the following:When I was strip-searched it was so painful because there were two of148 FROM PERSECUTION TO PRISON