First night on the Ground by Shedwin Eliassin

When I came to Lumpkin I did not know what to expect. My first thought was “the scenery is beautiful but the people seem to be absent.”

The streets are empty and the roads are long and narrow. The Stewart Detention Center sits on the corner of a small road tucked away almost into obscurity but has a huge impact on the community of Lumpkin. The institution has bred new economic life into the community because residents who were once living below poverty with limited opportunities, now have a “well paid” government job.

Thanks to Core Civic, formerly, Corrections Corporation of America. It saddens me however that this has to be the institution that feeds their families and sustains them—a building filled with human bodies, chained and confined.

When we arrived at Stewart it was a dreadful sight. The building was gray and its concrete walls were relatively high. The ceilings and fences were encased with barbed wire.

The gates were automatic and we had to be buzzed in for security purposes. We were not allowed to bring any personal items except for our keys and government issued IDs which were placed in lockers for us by the guards upon signing in. They allowed us to bring notepads and pens but no electronics were allowed past the inside of the detention walls.

I was informed that the initial purpose of the building was to serve as a medium security prison; however, it remained unpopulated until they contracted with ICE to house detainees.

Stewart is housing thousands of immigrants, detainees, refugees and asylum seekers in Lumpkin, funded by this private prison corporation.

It seemed strange to me that people who were fleeing persecution, tyrants, disease or simply seeking a better life are forced to live in cages treated as prisoners for attempting to partake in the dream that this country perpetuates: freedom for all. Ironically as I left the building the quote on the statue of liberty came to my mind: “Give me your poor, your tired, your hungry…those yearning to be free….”

These are people yearning to be free. I realize now more than ever that we must do all we can to support the SPLC, SIFI, El Refugio, ILSA and all other organizations such as these on the ground fighting earnestly to keep our nation’s promises even when our governments won’t. I truly believe we are doing God’s work.