Sunny's Ordeal: A Call for Support

Background

Sunny (Sun Yan) has been residing in the United States since 2008. She entered the country legally and continues to maintain her legal status. Sunny currently holds a valid work permit under the EDA code 766, classified as A10, designating her as an individual who has been granted withholding of removal by the U.S. government. To comply with the requirements of her immigration status, Sunny is obligated to report to an ICE facility each year to confirm her employment and address.

The Incident at ICE

During her most recent check-in at the ICE facility in Downtown San Diego on Wednesday, August 20th, Sunny's routine appointment took an alarming turn. She was escorted into an interrogation room with a female ICE officer and a translator on the phone. According to Sunny, the ICE officer was extremely intimidating, causing her to feel immediate fear. She was presented with an agreement for deportation—either to China or potentially a third country, such as one in Africa. Overwhelmed and unable to fully grasp the gravity of her situation. Sunny was denied the opportunity to seek advice or contact anyone for help. In a state of panic, she felt compelled to sign the deportation document to China, which was not translated to her. Following this, she was handcuffed, fitted with a foot shackle, and transported to the Otay Mesa Detention Facility near the Mexican border.

Legal Response and Detention Conditions

The following day, Sunny managed to contact us, and with our assistance, she secured an immigration lawyer, Law Offices of Jacob J. Sapochnick, San Diego. After several meetings, it became clear that Sunny had been coerced into signing the deportation agreement and that her detention by ICE was unwarranted. Despite this, ICE has not been cooperating with the legal team and has even made false claims regarding attempts to contact Sunny at the detention facility, something that never occurred.

Sunny’s Situation in Detention

Sunny, who is a valued employee at a Hotel in Downtown San Diego, remains in detention under difficult circumstances. She has contracted COVID-19 and lacks basic necessities. She is forced to wear hand-me-down clothing from previous detainees under her jumpsuit and is limited to a single pair of underwear. Sunny is being treated like a felon, despite having committed no crime.

A Call for Support

We are reaching out to request your financial support to help cover Sunny’s legal fees as she fights this injustice, as well as her rent and insurance costs during this difficult time. The Hotel has pledged to retain her as an employee upon her release, and the hotel owner has also committed to providing financial support, which we deeply appreciate. Family and friends have also offered their help. Through this GoFundMe campaign, we aim to provide Sunny with the necessary resources to overcome this ordeal.