Released from Prison
Mar 11, 2021
- Tom Albinson with SJ Holsteen
They were detained at the US border.
A stepfather and stepdaughter were detained at the US border. The authorities separated them. He was sent to a men's detention center. She was sent to a women's detention center.
He was later transferred to a county prison in Minnesota and ultimately released to live at IAFR's Jonathan House - a safe place of refuge for asylum seekers in the US.
She wasn't as fortunate and was kept in a remote prison in Texas from which she had little access to legal resources and little hope of being released on bond.
She ended up in a remote prison in Texas.
At church one Sunday, the stepfather shared with IAFR's Josh Levin how painful and traumatic her continued detention was for both of them.
Josh offered to pray with him.
Just two days later, the phone rang. It was his stepdaughter. She had unexpectedly been released from immigration detention that day - 1 year and 7 months after being imprisoned simply for having crossed the border to seek safety in the US.
Our friend was overjoyed to share the news with the IAFR team - and he thanked Josh for his prayers.
Jonathan House offers more than shelter to asylum seekers.
This stepfather is among the residents who have found shelter in one of our two Jonathan House locations in the Twin Cities. Our local team not only provides residents with much needed shelter - they walk with them through this uncertain chapter of their lives.
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*Photo ©Joanna Schaus Photography