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Abdu, 16, at Southwest Keys Program
Creator:
Richard Ross
Title:
Abdu, 16, at Southwest Keys Program
Location:
El Cajon, California, USA
Book/Project Title:
Suitable Placement: Juvenile Justice in America (2006 -)
Country:
United States
Work Type:
Photograph
Classification:
Photographs
Collection:
The Richard Ross Collection
Collection URL:
www.richardross.net
Creator Notes:
Abdu Mohamed Abraim, 16, Born in Addis Abbaba, Ethiopia. Abdu walked with 30 people, many older than he, to Kenya and then traveled to South Africa. Some were from Eritria. He had a counterfeit passport from Kenya and South Africa, where his stepbrother lived. He flew from South Africa to Brazil, where he worked his way north and ended up in a shelter in Texas for seven months. When he arrived his English was poor and Spanish non-existent. His life was extremely isolated when he was taken into custody. He was also verbally abused by one of his caretakers while in the facility in Texas. According to Abdu, the devout Christian caretaker could not tolerate the Muslim religion of Abdu. He was moved to California and told there was a possibility of going to a foster home after a week. The week passed, and Abdu became anxious. His cousins in Dallas and Washington D.C have been unable to help, as they had papers, but lost his birth certificate. The information here is somewhat sketchy and rudimentary. Abdu's preferred choices for living situations are either the foster home or with the cousins. Repatriation is not an option as his father was taken from his home in Ethiopia and killed, he still has a younger brother and sister there. Abdu is in fear for his life if he returns to Ethiopia. He is an Oroma, these are people that are normally “outsiders” to the government in power in Ethiopia. He has been to an immigration court five times. Each time, he is asked his name and country but allowed to offer no more. Five times his case has been continued. Over the course of seven months, he has learned very serviceable English. He gained funds for his trip from his mother who helped him come from South Africa with $8,000. His brother in South Africa helped him from there. There were less than 20 people that finished the trip to the US border. They had been walking for several days and nights when they were apprehended. He was taken to a Booking Camp facility in Corpus Christi, Texas. Abdu aspires to be a doctor.
Image ID:
Ross_SP_057.jpg
Rights:
© Richard Ross
Keywords:
adolescent, juvenile, crime, detention center, detain, security,
Country:
United States
Collection:
4. The Richard Ross Collection
Record created:
Sept. 27, 2020
Last modified:
Sept. 27, 2020
Collection Memberships
Collection | Visible |
---|---|
4. The Richard Ross Collection | yes |
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