(Image source from: The Hindu)

The Northwest Detention Center, Washington, is a handful of protesters for the last few days on the pavement outside the fences of the facility run by a private company of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The facility is overflowing since the U.S. President Donald Trump administration launched its 'zero tolerance' policy towards undocumented immigrants.

According to Balwinder Singh, who volunteers as a religious counselor every Saturday at the center, in the last few months, the number of Indians detained at the center has more than doubled.

"It used to be an average of around 50-60 people, but now it is around 150. In April, it went as high as 250-260. This year, it has increased dramatically," said Singh, who has visited the center every week for the last six years.

In 2017, at one point the numbers had gone down to 13 before spiking again following the crackdown on immigrants by the administration. Last Saturday there were 135 Indians detained here. There is no centralized data on detained Indians across detention centers in America. There are 52 of them at a federal prison near Salem in Oregon and 42 at a facility in New Mexico, according to available information. "People come in and go out on a daily basis," Singh added.

No criminal records: Pramila Jayapal

Indian American Congresswoman from the State Pramila Jayapal had visited the facility last week. "It was just heartbreaking," she said. "I think Trump would like you to think that these are all gang members. None of them had criminal records. None of them were involved in any of that. They were just trying to bring their children and their families to safety and to stay alive."

"They are here seeking betterment"

"Some are picked up at the border, some are taken from the community. ICE sometimes goes to the places, go raiding, at places where they may be working. There are so many ways in which people get here," Singh said. "Some are here for longer periods, perhaps for six months. But most of them get bonds and get released in two to three months. Their families or relatives hire attorneys. Some people may not get attorneys and they try to do it themselves," he said.

"There are reasons why they left India in the first place and nobody wants to go back. They are here seeking the betterment of their lives. And everybody has a right to seek a better life, economically, socially and educationally, Singh explained the situation of the detainees. For the same reason, these detainees do not want or expect any help from Indian missions, as that would not help their attempts to stay on in the U.S.

By Sowmya Sangam