Help bring Muhamad Sillah home from ICE detention

Muhamad Sillah is a 26-year-old young man from The Gambia who has been in the United States for approximately three years. During that time, he has worked hard, supported himself, and built relationships with friends, coworkers, and members of his community. According to Muhamad, he has a pending asylum case and valid employment authorization, which means he is not staying in the country "illegally."

Muhamad is currently in immigration detention and has been separated from the community he has come to know as home for weeks.

He lives in Rainier Beach, Seattle, where he was arrested. He was initially taken to the Northwest ICE Detention Center in Tacoma. Shortly afterward, he was transferred to Otay Mesa Detention Center in California, hundreds of miles away from the people and community who know and support him.

We have been seeing an increasing number of people transferred from the Northwest ICE Detention Center to detention facilities in other states. In Muhamad's case, the transfer happened the same night we visited the detention center. He was moved along with other detained individuals we saw that night.

These transfers make an already difficult situation even harder. When someone is moved hundreds or thousands of miles away from home, it becomes much more difficult for friends, coworkers, community members, and family to visit, communicate with, and support them. It also creates additional barriers to accessing legal representation and working effectively on their case.

Muhamad does not have immediate family here in Washington. He is a young man who has been navigating life here largely on his own. That is why we are stepping in as his community. We do not want him to be deported or face this situation alone.

We Need Your Help

We are actively working to secure an immigration attorney for Muhamad. Attorneys we have consulted have estimated that legal representation could cost approximately $4,000 to $7,000, with an initial deposit of $2,500 before they can even start on his case.

If Muhamad is granted bond, we anticipate that the bond could require an additional $5,000 to $15,000.

We are launching this fundraiser to help cover these costs and give Muhamad the opportunity to pursue his case with qualified legal representation and seek his release from detention.

Funds raised will be used to:

- Secure and pay for legal representation;

- Support the legal work needed to pursue Muhamad's release;

- Help cover a potential bond if bond is granted; and

- If funds remain after these needs are addressed, provide them directly to Muhamad to help him begin rebuilding and pursuing his life if he is released.

Muhamad has spent the past three years working to build a life here. He has friends, coworkers, and a community that cares about him.

We believe he deserves the opportunity to return to that community and continue his life while his immigration case moves forward.

If you can contribute, please give what you can. If you cannot donate, please share this fundraiser with your friends, coworkers, family, faith communities, and others who may be willing to help.

A 26-year-old young man should not have to face a situation like this alone.

We are his community. We are standing with Muhamad. Help us bring him home.

HOW TO DONATE:

Donations in cash or checks can be dropped off at our office located at 19203 36th Ave W, Lynnwood, WA 98036, STE 210.

For more information, you can contact us at [phone redacted] or [phone redacted] or email [email redacted]