The hunger strikers were visited by representatives from ICE yesterday, November 29; the main person in the delegation was Lt. Boyce from Varick Street office in NYC.

For a time the Passaic County jail Cpt. and Sgt. were present and Rosendo and Abdoulie did request that in the future that these officials not be present, want to meet with ICE by themselves because they don't feel it's the jail officials' business.

They both gave, or attempted to give, all their documents to ICE offiicals. All the documents that Rosendo had prepared were accepted. Lt. Boyce was much less respectful to Abdoulie and rejected all his letters of recommendation from employers and church, saying that he didn't have to see this. Boyce only accepted Aboulie's letter stating his grounds for the hunger strike. (See Abdoulie's statement at the end of this message)

Then Lt. Boyce said look we will offer you a deal, you suspend your hunger strike and two days from now we will give you an answer on your cases. Rosendo replied for both of them saying last time I trusted you, I gave you the benefit of the doubt. I'm not trusting you anymore, we aren't ending the hunger strike until we are released.

Rosendo restated the fact that he is being held illegally, that there is no prospect of deporting him and he has been held for more than six months. ICE did not respond to these concerns. Lt. Boyce did say that they could not just demand their release, that they could not hunger strike for their release. Rosendo replied that regardless of what they "could" do they were hunger striking for their release.

Then the chaplain, David Riallo, came in and urged the detainees to stop the hunger strike telling them that their case was being referred to the highest level of ICE and he was sure those officials are recommending the detainees' release. Rosendo asked who were the officials at the highest level and the chaplain said he did not know any names.

The guard came and said please we want a waiver to get you to the nurse for an examination. The detainees agreed that every two weeks they will waive their refusal for medical care so their blood pressure and weight can be taken.

Rosendo, 5'9", dropped from 180 to 164, blood pressure is 100/80 (loss of 16 pounds).

Abouli, 6'2", dropped from 185 to 164, blood pressure is normal (loss of 21 pounds).

The detainees are satisfied with their treatment by the jail in respond to their requests -- they are being given apple and orange juice and have been moved out of the bullpen to a quieter cell alone together.

Aboulie Secka's Hunger Strike Statement
mailed to ICE November 16th and given by hand to Lt. Boyce on November 29th. This is a notarized letter:

I honestly cannot and will not endure this situation any longer. This is a notice of my intentions to commence a hunger strike and also a compliance strike against the medical department. I refuse to eat food, and I refuse to be medicated and weighed. The humiliation of being incarcerated like a dog without a release date and in violation of all human and constitutional laws obliges me to resolve to either die of starvation or regain freedom.

This is a report from the NJ Civil Rights Defense Committee. For more information on the struggle for civil rights and against illegal detentions visit nj-civilrights.org