Dear Friend, My name is Laura Hernandez, and as the new Executive Director of Freedom for Immigrants (FFI), it is an honor to introduce myself. I am thrilled to be joining FFI at such a pivotal moment in the fight to abolish immigration detention and secure justice for our communities. I’m eager to begin working side by side with all of you — our valued partners, collaborators, and funders who make this work possible. But first, a bit about myself. I am an immigrant from Mexico. My parents brought me here as a baby, and I grew up in Southern California. I’m also formerly incarcerated. I served over 15 years in cages — in both California state prisons and ICE detention centers — and I believe wholeheartedly that my experiences have prepared me to lead FFI as we embark on this new chapter together. While incarcerated, I actively participated in my community as a leader and mentor to help improve morale and provide my peers with the tools they needed to thrive. Upon release in 2020, I immediately began serving my community again by sharing my story and working as the Coordinator of the Orange County Rapid Response Network. Having lived through the realities of being caged, and having worked alongside countless others who have similarly been criminalized, I’m all too familiar with the urgency with which we must abolish immigration detention and all forms of incarceration. And it is these experiences that have not only prepared me for this role, but provided me with a unique perspective into the work of abolition. As Executive Director, I am eager to strengthen the relationships between FFI and local communities. In fact, I view these ties to the community as foundational to the path ahead. We cannot make meaningful progress if we are removed from those who are directly affected by incarceration. This is why I believe that breaking bread with currently and formerly incarcerated people and their families is vital. After all, those of us who have lived through these systems are best equipped with the knowledge needed to dismantle them. Tonight, roughly 30,000 people will go to sleep inside the cell of an immigration detention center. Hundreds of thousands more will be electronically surveilled by ICE. I invite you to join FFI in this fight. Whether you have never volunteered before, have yet to contribute to our bond fund, or maybe have just taken a break, your renewed solidarity has never been more important. If we believe in humanity and in the rights of every person to be treated with dignity and respect, we cannot simply sit back and watch as our people are treated like cattle. It is our obligation to be accomplices in the resistance to the systemic oppression of our communities — and to fight for change that allows us all to lead dignified lives. It is my commitment to lead FFI with this vision in mind. And as I do so, I will carry the voices and stories of all the people I have met along my journey to every action, outcry, and political moment. I cannot forget their voices, because my own voice is one of them. I look forward to working with you as we begin this new chapter in the fight to abolish all cages — together. |
