#FreeUdoka Survival Fund
Donation protected
After being detained for nearly two years at the Adelanto detention facility, our brother and community member UDOKA NWEKE IS FINALLY FREE!
For the first time since he crossed the border nearly 21 months ago, Udoka will get to experience life outside of a jail cell and detention facility. He will get the opportunity to rebuild and live his life while being surrounded by the love and support of his community.
As Udoka gets ready for the next stage of his fight for asylum here in the US, the #FreeUdoka team asks you to make a gift to his survival fund.
Asylum seekers like Udoka typically have very little access to public benefits as well as healthcare and mental health support while they await the outcome of their case. They oftentimes have to wait months for their work permit and have no income to rely on. For Udoka this situation is compounded by his mental health issues, for which he will have to be on medication. Your gift of $10, $25, $50, $100 or more will help him pay rent, buy food, secure a metro card for local travel, and pay for medication among other critical needs. Please consider supporting the #FreeUdoka fund today.
Deep thanks and appreciation to all who fought to get Udoka free including:
Black LGBTQ+ Migrant Project
LGBT Center Orange County
Black Alliance for Just Immigration
Transgender Law Center
UndocuBlack Network
ICE Out of L.A.
Haitian Bridge Alliance
Public Law Center
Freedom for Immigrants - Formerly CIVIC
Familia: Trans Queer Liberation Movement
Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights
About Udoka Nweke:
Udoka is a 29 year old gay man and asylum seeker from Nigeria who was caged in Adelanto Detention facility in California since December of 2016 when he surrendered himself at the San Ysidro port of entry, after a traumatic trek through South and Central America. Following a suicide attempt at Adelanto that led to a two week stay at a mental health facility, Udoka was diagnosed with a severe mental illness. After a year-long campaign, Udoka was finally released on parole on September 14, 2018. He is currently pursuing his asylum case while being represented by the Public Law Center.
If Udoka were to be deported back to Nigeria, at best he would face a prison sentence and at worst, death, all because he is a gay man. The law passed by the Nigerian parliament in 2014 punishes anyone perceived to be LGBTQ with a 14 year prison sentence. Not only that, it punishes any service provider who works with this community and goes so far as to punish people found to possess any literature focused on this community. It is one of the most homophobic and harshest laws in the world and it incites “mob justice”, whereby large groups of people attack anyone perceived to be LGBTQ. In parts of Nigeria, being LGBTQ is also punishable by death. Udoka already escaped "mob justice" in Nigeria and he is a survivor of anti-LGBTQ violence.
Udoka deserves to be granted asylum and the chance to live his life freely, with adequate treatment for his mental health condition, and without the fear of homophobic violence and death, here in the United States.
For the first time since he crossed the border nearly 21 months ago, Udoka will get to experience life outside of a jail cell and detention facility. He will get the opportunity to rebuild and live his life while being surrounded by the love and support of his community.
As Udoka gets ready for the next stage of his fight for asylum here in the US, the #FreeUdoka team asks you to make a gift to his survival fund.
Asylum seekers like Udoka typically have very little access to public benefits as well as healthcare and mental health support while they await the outcome of their case. They oftentimes have to wait months for their work permit and have no income to rely on. For Udoka this situation is compounded by his mental health issues, for which he will have to be on medication. Your gift of $10, $25, $50, $100 or more will help him pay rent, buy food, secure a metro card for local travel, and pay for medication among other critical needs. Please consider supporting the #FreeUdoka fund today.
Deep thanks and appreciation to all who fought to get Udoka free including:
Black LGBTQ+ Migrant Project
LGBT Center Orange County
Black Alliance for Just Immigration
Transgender Law Center
UndocuBlack Network
ICE Out of L.A.
Haitian Bridge Alliance
Public Law Center
Freedom for Immigrants - Formerly CIVIC
Familia: Trans Queer Liberation Movement
Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights
About Udoka Nweke:
Udoka is a 29 year old gay man and asylum seeker from Nigeria who was caged in Adelanto Detention facility in California since December of 2016 when he surrendered himself at the San Ysidro port of entry, after a traumatic trek through South and Central America. Following a suicide attempt at Adelanto that led to a two week stay at a mental health facility, Udoka was diagnosed with a severe mental illness. After a year-long campaign, Udoka was finally released on parole on September 14, 2018. He is currently pursuing his asylum case while being represented by the Public Law Center.
If Udoka were to be deported back to Nigeria, at best he would face a prison sentence and at worst, death, all because he is a gay man. The law passed by the Nigerian parliament in 2014 punishes anyone perceived to be LGBTQ with a 14 year prison sentence. Not only that, it punishes any service provider who works with this community and goes so far as to punish people found to possess any literature focused on this community. It is one of the most homophobic and harshest laws in the world and it incites “mob justice”, whereby large groups of people attack anyone perceived to be LGBTQ. In parts of Nigeria, being LGBTQ is also punishable by death. Udoka already escaped "mob justice" in Nigeria and he is a survivor of anti-LGBTQ violence.
Udoka deserves to be granted asylum and the chance to live his life freely, with adequate treatment for his mental health condition, and without the fear of homophobic violence and death, here in the United States.
Organizer
Ola Osaze
Organizer
Richmond, TX