As horrified as I was to watch this video of Esmeralda speaking about her experiences in immigration detention prisons, I am so glad that she is speaking out. For so long, sexual violence against women in detention prisons has been the secret people don’t talk about. Or if they do, it’s (justifiably so) with pseudonyms or only found out about after a newspaper reporter manages to dig around enough.

This horror–the horror that specifically targets immigrant women in detention, is not new, it’s not unusual, it happens all the time. Women locked in little cells, many times with their children, and then forced to submit to the will of guards who promise extra blankets or play time for the kids, or most times, nothing at all.

Please watch Esmeralda’s testimonio (but be forewarned, there is lots of triggering stories!!!)

Esmeralda: A Transgender Detainee Speaks Out from Breakthrough on Vimeo.

It’s important to also point out that Esmeralda faced sexual violence that other women did not specifically because she is transgendered. So, even though she is a woman, she was put in prison with men. The U.S. government (not sure about Mexico), recognizes only the gender that is legally given to a person upon their birth, and as such when there are no transgendered facilities (which are bad enough because they segregate trans people from general populations as if they have a disease or something, talk about stigma!!!), trans women and men are often forced to stay in facilities meant for the opposite sex. Which makes already vulnerable women without citizenship papers or other legal representation even more vulnerable. If it’s nearly impossible to report guards, how on earth can women report fellow detainees who hurt her? Not to mention what happens if she has a period or needs other reproductive services while in a prison that functions for men’s needs?

These prisons (AND, please be aware, the U.S. prison system in general! These abuses are not particular to detention prisons!!!!) are a violation of human rights and dignity–and are one of the main reasons why I support calls for immigration reform (even as I work towards something more radical). The abuse is so horrific and so violent, we can not wait until there is something more radical in place to stop the violence. And doing nothing is an even worse idea. Please see restorefairness.org for how you can help!

Video found via Facebook