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

More documents

Recommendations

Info

I have seen people who have killed people and I see them walk out. Theysay when they finished their time they are released. But they don’trelease me.Worsening Mental Health Because of SegregationAs noted elsewhere in this report segregation (i.e. solitary confinement)and the threat of segregation are used as a means of punishment andintimidation (See Treatment in Detention Facilities chapter). For a personwho is affected by post-traumatic stress, the prospect of solitary confinementcan be especially fearsome. One detainee explained:Segregation makes me afraid. Being with friends helps to reduce mydepression. The possibility of being placed in segregation makes memore afraid.Another detainee said,I would be very afraid, being in a room just by myself – no television, nobooks to read, cold – I would be very afraid. Being lonely, by myself,just myself and my thoughts, would be very scary.This detainee was subsequently placed in segregation for two days forarguing with another detainee. In a follow-up interview, he recounted hisexperience there.It was very bad. The room was very dirty and it smelled bad. Segregationmade me feel sad.This individual described a conflict that ensued with a guard after hisrelease from segregation.I went to religious service after being released from segregation. On theway back to the dorm after the service, I was standing outside the doorof the dorm. I was distracted, thinking about the segregation and howdifficult it was. And the guard came over and pushed me into the dormroom. He raised his hand like he was going to hit me, and said, ‘I willslap your face.’ And I just said, ‘OK, slap me.’ [At this point in the interviewthe subject began to cry.] When I remember this action, it makesme very nervous. I can’t stop crying. It’s bad for me. I’ve done nothingwrong, and I think I’m being oppressed here.Another detainee who was put in segregation reported:I was very scared while I was in segregation. The place was very small.They didn’t let me go out. They gave me food through the window. Sincebeing in segregation, I have felt even more nervous.MENTAL HEALTH OF DETAINED ASYLUM SEEKERS 75
Thoughts of SuicideSeveral asylum seekers reported that the trauma of detention pushed themtoward their limits. Approximately 25% reported that they had experiencedsuicidal thoughts while in detention. Among those with suicidalthoughts, only 3 individuals (17%) told detention center staff about thesethoughts. Many of the individuals with suicidal thoughts believed that thestress of being in detention was responsible. Two individuals interviewedfor this study reported attempting suicide.One of the individuals who attempted suicide reported that she tried tohang herself, but had been stopped by a friend. Later she was granted asylum.Her description of the events surrounding her suicide attempt is asfollows:Before detention, I had never thought of killing myself. I had never hadsuch an idea. My goal was to save my life. It was when I got into detention,that I started losing hope and thought that it is useless to live. Inmy mind, I just kept thinking there is no reason to live and I thoughtabout what would happen to me if I was sent back to my country- Ithought I would be killed if I was sent back. So I thought it would bebetter to just get it over with now rather than to be sent back.It was after 7 months. I had never been in prison before in my life. Icame to the US to save my life. When I left my country I was alreadysuffering emotionally. I thought the US was a country of human rightsthat would protect me. I never thought about being detained here.I grabbed a bed sheet and tied it to a piece of metal between the televisionand the wall, there was a base of about 3 and a half meters usingthe toilet I was able to tie the sheet and it was easy to do. This way ofcommitting suicide, in fact, we learned in detention. I had heard a abouta male who had killed himself this way.I was in a dormitory of 6 people. Fortunately, one of my friends, aroommate saw what I was about to do. She came and calmed me downand said ‘No you have to stop that.’ She also let the others in the dormknow and they said the same thing, not to do this.They calmed me down and sat with me and advised me to take it easyand they calmed me down. They said, they can’t go back to sleepbecause they were afraid to go back to sleep because of what I might do.One of my friends brought out a bible, and we did some prayingtogether. I became very relieved with all of the advice I was getting, andthey also pointed out other detainees who had spent even longer periodsand had still won their cases.After that I never tried to kill myself again. I did nothing again, alsobecause a woman who came every Sunday pointed out that God has forbiddenpeople to kill themselves and that would be a sin.76 FROM PERSECUTION TO PRISON
Page 2 and 3:
From Persecution to Prison:The Heal
Page 4 and 5:
CONTENTSAcknowledgements . . . . .
Page 6:
The Bellevue/NYU Program for Surviv
Page 9 and 10:
don, Miranda Ip, and Meriam Alrashi
Page 11 and 12:
Significant symptoms of depression
Page 13 and 14:
Detained asylum seekers participati
Page 15 and 16:
persecution, yet most emphasized ho
Page 17 and 18:
In many facilities, the response to
Page 19 and 20:
years in detention, she finally got
Page 21 and 22:
abuse For example, while being take
Page 23 and 24:
They didn’t let me use the phone
Page 25 and 26:
intensely personal events they had
Page 27 and 28:
Limitations of this study include t
Page 29 and 30:
Non-governmental organizations serv
Page 31 and 32:
22 FROM PERSECUTION TO PRISON
Page 33 and 34: the late 1990s ranging from 10 to 7
Page 35 and 36: Historical BackgroundFor most of th
Page 37 and 38: international standards with the 19
Page 39 and 40: apply for asylum make up the majori
Page 41 and 42: tion judge. 57 Yet in many parts of
Page 43 and 44: York and Newark, New Jersey has had
Page 45 and 46: trict began denying parole to them
Page 47 and 48: Correctional Facility in 2000. “[
Page 49 and 50: men of which 750 were detained on i
Page 51 and 52: from that same country from seeking
Page 53 and 54: Detention Facilities in this StudyF
Page 55 and 56: high reliability in numerous langua
Page 57 and 58: 48 FROM PERSECUTION TO PRISON
Page 59 and 60: York County Prison in York Pennsylv
Page 61 and 62: TABLE 2:Demographic Characteristics
Page 63 and 64: TABLE 4:Prevalence of Pre-Migration
Page 65 and 66: on a part time basis, researchers w
Page 67 and 68: Case #1(DK): “Loneliness and Fear
Page 69 and 70: TABLE 6:Hopkins Symptom Checklist-2
Page 71 and 72: TABLE 8:Harvard Trauma Questionnair
Page 73 and 74: think such services were available.
Page 75 and 76: When I am talking to you now it is
Page 77 and 78: After being granted asylum and rele
Page 79 and 80: “Being here is like going through
Page 81 and 82: In my country even though I became
Page 83: how long they were there - six mont
Page 87 and 88: here?’ I told the doctor, they br
Page 89 and 90: Another subject reported a positive
Page 91 and 92: substantial distance from their att
Page 93 and 94: eported that her experience in dete
Page 97 and 98: e somatic manifestations of the psy
Page 99 and 100: Case #2 (JG): “Health Care in Cha
Page 101 and 102: TABLE 11:Detainee Perceptions of He
Page 103 and 104: TABLE 13:Availability and Quality o
Page 105 and 106: detainees, or because they did not
Page 107 and 108: Difficulty Obtaining Specialized Ca
Page 109 and 110: Another detained asylum seeker repo
Page 111 and 112: One detainee who speaks French and
Page 115 and 116: Detention Facilities in this StudyS
Page 117 and 118: even though many reported having ex
Page 119 and 120: CASE #3 (HN): “SOLITARY CONFINEME
Page 121 and 122: Here, I’m scared. In [the detenti
Page 123 and 124: emote control and watch what he wan
Page 125 and 126: Whenever someone misbehaves, they t
Page 127 and 128: This subject was himself threatened
Page 129 and 130: One detainee reported several incid
Page 131 and 132: Some Process Exists to Respond to R
Page 133 and 134: There were no witnesses other than
Page 135 and 136:
tion. An INS officer said they put
Page 137 and 138:
There is an Anglican minister who c
Page 139 and 140:
The dentists didn’t explain anyth
Page 141 and 142:
tion between dental age and chronol
Page 143 and 144:
Case #4 (LK): “Fifteen-Year-Old G
Page 145 and 146:
Page 147 and 148:
TABLE 16:Treatment/Abuses Reported
Page 149 and 150:
“There is no political asylum her
Page 151 and 152:
I was crying. I was so afraid with
Page 153 and 154:
save her life, but was not able to
Page 155 and 156:
Case #5 (CR): “Begging for Mercy
Page 157 and 158:
ehind and told me to sign. He physi
Page 159 and 160:
days and it is now 2 years and four
Page 161 and 162:
viewers asked for additional inform
Page 163 and 164:
y study participants. In evaluating
Page 165 and 166:
trast, under US law, detention of s
Page 167 and 168:
nation for an asylum determination
Page 169 and 170:
very negative effects of detention
Page 171 and 172:
authority to grant asylum and with
Page 173 and 174:
absconding.” 250 Since the passag
Page 175 and 176:
said “[F]reedom from imprisonment
Page 177 and 178:
Standards relevant to this study ar
Page 179 and 180:
“detained person” generally as
Page 181 and 182:
which they are charged and a fair h
Page 183 and 184:
esponse to substantial public press
Page 185 and 186:
specified procedures, provided they
Page 187 and 188:
PunishmentThe Detention Standard on
Page 189 and 190:
any time the detainee complains.”
Page 191 and 192:
Page 193 and 194:
while in detention, thus adding to
Page 195 and 196:
Establish a Uniform National Parole
Page 197 and 198:
that effect. These officers should
Page 199 and 200:
Besides their inaccuracy, these exa
Page 201 and 202:
friends so asylum seekers can maint
Page 203 and 204:
appropriate staffing of such groups
Page 205 and 206:
efugees and asylum seekers who win
Page 207 and 208:
Page 209 and 210:
of thorough documentation. However,
Page 211 and 212:
Human development is complex and di
Page 213 and 214:
18. Country from which fleeing pers
Page 215 and 216:
9. Being close to death.10. Forced
Page 217 and 218:
Complete for each health problem:5.
Page 219 and 220:
Explain:(Interviewer: Write brief n
Page 221 and 222:
2. Depression SymptomsA How much we
Page 223 and 224:
B. You said that you have experienc
Page 225 and 226:
Explain:13. How was your physical h
Page 227 and 228:
Yes ...........1No............22. W
Page 229 and 230:
Explain:20. At the time of your arr
show all

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

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?