A letter from an ICE detention center: A pastor writes from inside

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Editor’s note: Molis Augustave, a Haitian pastor, husband, father of two and an immigrant rights organizer in Pennsylvania, was stopped by local police for a broken headlight on Sept. 5, according to We Are CASA, the immigrant rights organization that employed him. Augustave then was sent to a detention center. On Sept. 17, he was put on a deportation plane and then pulled off the ICE flight.

Augustave’s account of his detention was republished with permission from We Are CASA. It was originally written and published on We Are CASA’s website while Molis was still in ICE custody. On Sept. 24, Augustave was deported to Haiti and remains there, despite legal efforts to halt his removal and reverse the federal government’s denial of his application for U.S. residence. The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

(RNS) — I was supposed to be deported to Haiti.

I was already on the plane when, at the last minute, they pulled me off.

I thank God for that moment. I thank my wife, my church, my community and everyone who raised their voices for…