Approximately 90 people rallied in front of the John F. Kennedy Federal Building Saturday afternoon in support of Siham Byah, a Moroccan immigrant who was deported last month, along with other immigrants facing similar fates.
Byah, a single mother of an 8-year-old boy, Naseem, lived in the United States for 18 years before being detained and imprisoned in the Bristol County House of Corrections last November by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement office, according to a press release by the “Justice4Siham” coalition.
The release stated that Byah was “shackled and transferred” to a facility in Virginia before being flown out of the United States to Morocco in December. The release also alleges that Byah was tortured physically and emotionally by ICE and beaten while in handcuffs.
Marking the first month since Byah was deported, the Justice4Siham coalition, consisting of organizations like the Boston International Socialist Organization, the Boston May Day Coalition and the Green-Rainbow Party, marched to the Massachusetts State House from the JFK Federal Building. The ralliers called on the Department of Children and Families and ICE to honor their alleged demands.
The coalition demanded that Byah be permitted to communicate with Naseem — who is a U.S. citizen — whenever she wishes. They also asked that Naseem receive assistance in obtaining a passport, and not be put up for adoption. The coalition’s primary demand, however, was that Byah to be returned to the United States immediately and be given an opportunity to present her case for asylum.
Kay Sweeney, a member of Boston ISO, wrote in an email that Byah is currently recovering from trauma after being “beaten” by ICE officials and “forced into [a] plane.”
“[She is] trying to adjust to life in another culture in a place that she hasn’t been to in nearly 20 years,” Sweeney wrote. “And, [she’s] seeking reunification with her U.S.-born son.”
Naseem has reportedly been placed in the custody of his biological father, despite Byah’s full legal custody prior to her detention, Sweeney wrote. She wrote that the Boston ISO, specifically, is supporting the rally to stop Trump’s “racist agenda,” and that Siham’s deportation is only a part of a “systematic” attack on undocumented immigrants.
Laura Mandelberg, 32, of Arlington, said in an interview after the rally that she attended to support Siham and her son because she believes they have been “ripped apart” by ICE. Mandelberg said she thinks immigrants contribute to the Boston community in various ways, including activism, art and businesses.
“Regardless of whether they do anything, they’re human and they belong … here just because of that.” Mandelberg said.
David Rolde, secretary of the Greater Boston chapter of the Green-Rainbow Party of Massachusetts, wrote in an email that the party decided its primary focuses will be immigrant rights, stopping deportations and opposing U.S. imperialist policies around the world that are forcing people to leave their homes and migrate, forcing people like Siham and Naseem into “uncertain” situations.
Rolde wrote that there is a need to speak out and pressure the U.S. “regime” to stop this “repression.”
Nilaye, a member of Boston ISO, who preferred not to give her last name, said during the rally that mass protests are important to enact change and implement policy.
“The way to defeat the attacks and stop the Trump administration’s racist agenda from destroying communities and families is by uniting and working together and mobilizing a large numbers,” Nilaye said.
Evan, a member of the BMDC, who preferred not to give his last name, spoke during the rally about how attacks on Siham, and migrants and workers like her, are attacks on everyone, not just those directly targeted.
“There’s been a full scale war on workers in this country since the day it was founded, since the day Americans were killed, since African-Americans were put in chains for the entire history of this country, working people have been under attack and that’s what this is,” Evan said. “Are we going to let Siham be arrested like this, sent to Morocco where her life is in danger? I’m not.”
The organizers and supporters said Byah has been an outspoken member of the political community in Boston.
There has been uncertainty regarding Byah’s current status and the facilitation of her relationship with her son. Members of the aforementioned organizations and some attendees of the march believe Naseem is still in DCF’s care, while others believe he has been placed under the custody of his biological father.
Aziz Afoulous, 33, Byah’s partner from Nahant, said in an interview that Byah is currently in Morocco with fellow cousins and some aunts, but that she does not feel safe because she was outspoken against the regime in Morocco.
“She’s with family, yes, but she’s really struggling right now to straighten a lot of things,” Afoulous said. “You know, find a job, communicate with her kid, which is another problem right now.”
Afoulous said the DCF gave Naseem to his father, who he described as an emotional abuser.
“He never asked about him and never paid child support over the course of seven years,” Afoulous said. “Now, the DCF are comfortable to give the child to him.”
Afoulous claimed Byah’s deportation was unjust, as she allegedly had an asylum application pending and a document stating she could remain in the United States.
Six individuals from the organization Resist Marxism, who organized the Free Speech rally in November, counter-protested Saturday’s rally, calling for all immigrants to be “out.” The counter-protestors were received with chants calling them “Nazis,” “racists,” “sexists,” “anti-gay” and “right-wing bigots.”
Samson Racioppi, 36, a Libertarian congressional candidate from Salisbury, said he attended the rally but was not welcomed by the ralliers or the counter-protesters.
“Every time we have [approached] people, other people called us Nazis,” Racioppi said. “It’s very discouraging to me, as somebody who wants to advocate on behalf of a better immigration policy.”
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