All, below is a message I received from a friend in kentucky, Max Njie, and
I thought I pass the word around to see how we can assist the Gambian
community there. Theirs is a case of mistaken identity and being at the
wrong place at the wrong time for most of them. They will appreciate any
help they can get. Thank you for your support. Please read on.
>From: "Makumba Njie" <[log in to unmask]>
>To:
><[log in to unmask]>,<[log in to unmask]>,<[log in to unmask]>,<[log in to unmask]>
>CC: "MGSA" <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Gambians in Lexington detained by the INS
>Date: Mon, 9 Dec 2002 22:18:17 -0500
>
>Hi Joe, thanks for the time you spend on the phone with me.
>
>Here is briefly what happen
>
>A new arrival by the name of Lamin Touray was trying to secure a social
>security card through the social security scam that was going on in
>Madison, Wisconson. Even though he never get the card, his name came up
>when that scam was busted. A representative from the social security
>department then contacted Lamin Touray1 by phone, but got the wrong Lamin
>Touray2 and asked him what his social security number was, Lamin genuinely
>replied that he left his card at home and does not remember the number. He
>however promised to call back and give his SS number to the social security
>agent, but he never did. After ten weeks, Lamin Touray1 apartment was
>raided by a representative from the SS department, an INS agent and members
>of the Lexington police force.
>At the time of the raid Lamin1 was at work, so the agents proceeded to his
>work place, but, they got the wrongly Lamin Touray2 again. After taking
>Lamin2 into custody, and ran his SS number, they realized that they got the
>wrong guy, but kept him for working without a work permit. The agents went
>back to Lamin Touray1's apartment to look for him again and during their
>search they found that Lamin's roommates were also working without a work
>permit and arrested them. One of the guys arrested gave out the name and
>address of an other recent arrival who was living with a couple who
>overstayed their B2 visas and working without permit. Upon raiding the
>apartment all three were taken into custody. During this raid another
>person was discriminately pick up because he was wearing a kaftan, he was
>interviewed and arrested for visa violation. One of Lamin Touray's
>roommates was missing at the time of the initial arrest, so the agents went
>back looking for him, unfortunately a lady and her brother who knew of the
>raid met this person outside the apartment and started explaining what
>happened to him, not knowing that the agents were still there waiting for
>this missing person and all three were nabbed.
>In short the agents came looking for one person and ended taking 11 people.
>However none of them were involve in any criminal activity, 10 were charged
>with immigration violation and Lamin Touray1 was charged with a felony of
>trying to fraudulent secure a federal document. Of the 11 people, one has
>been bailed by her relative, 9 are held on $15,000 bonds and Lamin is held
>on a felony charge.
>We are currently working with a Gambian attorney Abdoulie Suwareh, who
>want's $3000 upfront for his incidental expenses to prosecute the case and
>$3000 per person for his fees.
>The Gambian community in Lexington is a very small one and half of us have
>been incarcerated. This left 10 of us with a heavy financial burden. Some
>of the detainees have relative that may be able to help, but we won't
>discriminate now, we will treat them as a group.
>5 or 6 of the detainees were here on B2s and the other 5 were here on F1
>visa, one was a full time student and at least 3 of them applied to enroll
>in school in January.
>
>We the Lexington community are here by soliciting the financial help from
>any willing and able person that came across this email.
>
>You can send donations to
>
>Makumba Njie (Max),
>175 N Locust Hill Dr.
>Apt #2607,
>Lexington, KY 40509.
>If you need more information feel free to call at 859 269 8111 or 859 489
>7281 or email at [log in to unmask]
>
>
>
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