I went to Lumpkin, GA today to visit detainees at the Stewart Detention Center. I had certain expectations going in, almost all of which were dispelled once I arrived.
I expected mostly Hispanic detainees. I found of the 8 we went to visit only 2 were Hispanic. The others were from Nepal, India, Senegal and Nigeria.
I expected recent arrivals with few local connections. I found people with decades in the US and deep connections.
I expected a "Detention Center". I found a prison.
I got to see a father and son reunited after the son spent 72 days in detention.
I heard stories from the dad, Adam (the detainee I visited about, not his real name), a wife of 12 years, a grandmother, a daughter and two volunteer translators.
As my traveling companion today told me, this is about the stories, not the statistics.
I'll share the stories over the next few days. I doubt they'll be what you expect.
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