Humans of ICE

Love unites us even as systems work to separate us.  This week, Humans of ICE was able to celebrate some major wins for the individuals we support.  Congratulations, Sarai and Shaun on your recent wedding at the Broome County jail! The groom is sadly not pictured because he remains inside in ICE detention.  

Narrative by Christina Zawerucha, 5/11/26

When we first arrived at the jail for Shaun and Sarai’s wedding, Sarai and I were both shaking.  Sarah Dinhofer, the Binghamton City Clerk who would be officiating the wedding, was already there. Sister Brigid and Father Tim Taugher, who had visited Shaun several times, were also there as witnesses.  The biggest surprise was seeing Mehdi in the waiting room. He had just been released from ICE detention on bond the night before, thanks to a whole team of Humans of ICE volunteers working on his asylum case (we will have a separate post for him soon). Mehdi was dressed in a stylish suit that Richard Birchard from Mabel D. Orr had hooked him up with.  Sarai was gorgeous, with a dress that had been hemmed by Candace Phelan and hair and make-up by Nina Hyatt.  It was actually Sammie Werkheiser who had kindly advised us that we could request to bring the wedding dress in, and that we had the right to request a photograph.

Father Tim blessed  the rings with holy water out in the waiting room.  As usual, we were not allowed to wear any jewelry or handbags into the jail. The ICE Liaison inspected the flower bouquet and allowed us to bring it in. We were told we were allowed to take only 1 non-digital photograph. We couldn’t get the camera Rich McGew had lent us to work, so we used the disposable camera that Yarie Vasquez had given us as back-up.  Thank God we had it!  

The ICE Liaison at the jail allowed Sister Brigid, Father Tim and I to come in as Witnesses since we had all passed security checks.  ICE was still holding onto Mehdi’s passport, so he was unable to enter.  But he was happy to wait outside.  Some of the COs stopped to say “Hi” to him, and congratulate him on finally being outside.

We were permitted to enter the jail further than we had ever gone before.  We were brought into a room and were told exactly where to stand. It meant so much to have a familiar face in the jail with Sarah there to officiate. We are also grateful to the Chaplain Cris Mogenson for allowing us to hold this ceremony, and John Perticone for filing the pro bono habeas petition that, among other arguments, highlighted the fact that ICE was denying the right for Sarai and Shaun to get married.

A CO brought Shaun in.  Even though we had spoken over GTL a bunch of times, this was actually my first time being able to shake his hand and give him a hug.  He pulled a yellow piece of looseleaf paper out- his wedding vows to Sarai.

One of the COs gave Shaun permission to take off his orange uniform top and do the ceremony in his white t-shirt.  He still had bright orange crocs on.  Sarai and I would later joke that, when Shaun is out and we have the real wedding ceremony, the bridesmaids will all wear orange crocs.

Sarah read part of Sarai’s vows for her.  It started with, “In Spanish, we say “Te Amo” but in the Bible it says, “Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God is my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.’”

When Sarah declared them married, they were allowed to hug and kiss one time.  Then we took the one photo.  It was a powerful ceremony.  In the face of so much oppression, love is working to unite us across systems working to separate us.  

A few hours later, Humans of ICE was able to host a small wedding reception at a volunteer’s home.  Chris Harasta kindly donated his catering services and prepared a delicious meal, and Rebecca Goldstein provided the beverages.  Travis Ketzak was able to capture video footage of the powerful interactions between community members who have been supporting Shaun, Sarai and Mehdi. Kalieb DeShaw, who was one of the first people to interview Mehdi, and Cole Wager, who actually studied Farsi, were excited to offer him support.  A huge thanks to Mary Mullaney, Linda Quilty, Delorme Smith, Emily De La Vega, Bill Hanes, Andy Pragascz, Melissa Petryszyn, and supporters near and far who were there or there in spirit.  Thank you to John Perticone and John Allured for providing legal services and advice on this case, as well as Bryan Gilbert and Daniel Calkins of Volunteer Legal Services. Also, love to Shaun and Sarai’s family members who could not put themselves at risk to travel to the jail for the wedding.

We are hoping that these milestones for Shaun, Sarai, and Mehdi indicate that the ICE is melting and that we must keep advocating with fierce love for brighter days ahead.

Read Shaun’s original narrative here.

Have you or your family been impacted by ICE?  Would you like to write your story?  Certified English as a New Language teachers will work with you to write and publish your story.  Email humansofice@proton.me or call/text (607) 252-6760‬.

¿Usted o su familia se han visto afectados por ICE? ¿Le gustaría escribir su historia? Profesores certificados de inglés como segundo idioma trabajarán con usted para escribir y publicar su relato. Envíe un correo electrónico a humansofice@proton.me o llame/envíe un mensaje de texto al (607) 252-6760.

کیا آپ یا آپ کا خاندان ICE سے متاثر ہوا ہے؟ کیا آپ اپنی کہانی لکھنا پسند کریں گے؟ سند یافتہ انگریزی بطور دوسری زبان کے اساتذہ آپ کی کہانی لکھنے اور شائع کرنے کے لیے آپ کے ساتھ کام کریں گے۔ humansofice@proton.me یا کال/ٹیکسٹ 6072526760 پر ای میل کریں۔

Èske ou menm oswa fanmi ou te afekte pa ICE a? Èske ou ta renmen ekri istwa pa w la? Pwofesè angle kòm dezyèm lang ki sètifye yo ap travay avèk ou pou ekri epi pibliye istwa pa w la. Voye yon imèl bay humansofice@proton.me oswa rele/voye yon mesaj tèks nan (607) 252-6760.

هل تأثرت أنت أو عائلتك بسياسات إدارة الهجرة والجمارك الأمريكية (ICE)؟ هل ترغب في مشاركة قصتك؟ سيساعدك مدرسو اللغة الإنجليزية كلغة ثانية المعتمدون في كتابة قصتك ونشرها. تواصل معنا عبر البريد الإلكتروني humansofice@proton.me أو اتصل/أرسل رسالة نصية على الرقم  6072526760.