Wednesday Feb 26-Wednesday March 4
Humans of ICE is a community storytelling project dedicated to supporting immigrants detained in the Broome County jail. Each week, volunteers organized by Concerned Residents of Greater Binghamton will visit the jail to meet with ICE detainees, listen to their stories, and learn about their needs and goals. Our mission is to connect these individuals and their families with the resources they need, while also sharing their experiences (with their permission) with the wider community to foster understanding and guide advocacy efforts.
We are putting a call out to artists to illustrate the narratives shared by the detainees, who have granted us permission to share their stories on social media. Jail visitors are not allowed to bring a paper or pencil into the visitation room, nor are we able to photograph or bring in any electronic devices, so we are asking illustrators to read the narratives and present their best illustration/image to portray this person’s story. We would like to prioritize artists of BIPOC and immigrant backgrounds when possible.
This is the starting point for a longer-working relationship with a group of artists interested in arts in activism. We are hoping to pilot this project for 6 weeks, with a goal of releasing 1-2 illustrated narratives each week. We plan to compensate artists $50 for each selected sketch/illustration. We are trying to cultivate a collective of artists to continue illustrating these narratives for the foreseeable future. We would like to credit each artist on social media when the narratives are released.
Learn more at humansofice.org
Directions: Please choose one of the following ICE detainee narratives and create an illustration communicating their story, with the purpose of being shared over social media. This is an ongoing project with rolling deadlines. Please upload your illustration to this Humans of ICE Art Submission Form by 11:59 PM on Thursday, March 5th.
Narratives for Feb 26-March 5th
| W___ is a native of Honduras. During his time in the military, he killed a gang leader in combat. Fearing retribution, he fled his country to seek refuge in the U.S. Around the same time, his partner, M. , witnessed her mother’s murder and also sought refuge.W fled to the U.S. for the first time in 2018, where he sought asylum but was not granted it. He was detained for 8 months before being deported. Fearing for his life, he fled Honduras in 2019 and was once again deported. He fled for a third time in 2020, and he and M settled in Baltimore, MD. Two years ago, they became the proud parents of a little boy.W found a job renovating hotels. In February 2026, he was sent to work at a hotel in Buffalo, and that’s where ICE picked him up. After being held for two days there, he was brought to Binghamton where he’s been detained at the Broome County Jail for two weeks. Because W entered the US three times without status, W is in the federal criminal system (not the immigration system) and was assigned a public defender (not an immigration lawyer) who has advised him to plead guilty, serve out his sentence and return to Honduras. W is holding out hope that his partner, who has her own asylum case pending, and he could be granted Canadian asylum. He says other than that, the best-case scenario would be to be deported to another country. He knows he will be killed if he is sent back to his home country and would willingly take the risk to flee again.A small comfort for W is that the judge assigned to his case ordered that he be moved into the “K pod” where other Spanish speakers are currently detained. |
| E_, an Iranian national, was detained upon his arrival in the United States in September 2024 after fleeing persecution in his homeland. As an Information Technology specialist who worked for the Iranian police, Em found himself in the crossroads of the 2022-2023 protests that erupted following the death of a woman who was killed in police custody. She had been put in the prison for now wearing hijab.E_ was assigned to crowd control during these demonstrations. He received orders to physically harm protesters, but he refused. Due to this refusal, Em was court martialed and faced criminal charges and acts against the government. E_ feared for his life, so he made the difficult decision to flee Iran, leaving behind his wife, 11-year-old son, and the rest of his family.The danger that E_ faces extends beyond his refusal to harm innocent people. As Protestant Christians, Em and his family are at greater risk of reprisal and persecution.Despite seeking asylum in the United States, Em was immediately detained by immigration officers upon arrival. His asylum application was denied, though he is currently appealing this decision, with a ruling expected in March 2026. Should this appeal fail, he would have one final opportunity to appeal before a federal court before facing deportation.During his 16 months in custody, E_ has tried to remain resilient, teaching himself how to speak English. He holds onto hope that he will be granted asylum, allowing him to begin a new life in the United States and eventually being reunited with his family. His only wish is to hug his son again.Interview collected by Kalieb & Travis 1/19/26 |
Humans of ICE Art Selection Criteria
Our Team will be using the following criteria to evaluate art: Humans of ICE Art Selection Criteria
Rubric (0-54 points)
| Category | Description | Exemplary | Medium | Beginner | Not Yet |
| Narrative Fidelity(x5) | Does the art accurately reflect the specific emotions, events, or themes in the detainee’s story? Does it avoid generic tropes? | 15 | 10 | 5 | 0 |
| Dignity & Respect(x5) | Does the work portray the individual with agency and humanity, or does it lean into “poverty porn” or dehumanizing imagery? | 15 | 10 | 5 | 0 |
| Emotional Impact(x3) | How effectively does the piece evoke empathy and understanding in the viewer? Does it foster connection? | 9 | 6 | 3 | 0 |
| Cultural Relevance(x3) | Does the artist demonstrate an understanding of the cultural or geographic context mentioned in the narrative? | 9 | 6 | 3 | 0 |
| Technical Execution(2) | Is the art high-quality and suitable for social media formats? (Clarity, composition, and readability). | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 |
Priority & Ethics Checklist
Beyond the numerical score, use these “Yes/No” filters to ensure the project stays true to its roots:
| Lived Experience: Does the artist identify as BIPOC or have an immigrant background? | Yes | No |
| Consent & Safety: Does the art respect the anonymity of the detainee if requested? (e.g., avoiding identifiable facial features if the detainee is at risk). | Yes | No |
| Tone Alignment: Does the style match the gravity of the story? (e.g., avoiding overly “cartoony” styles for very traumatic narratives). | Yes | No |
Guidelines for Reviewers: When looking at the art, keep these three principles in mind:
- The “Witness” Factor: Since visitors can’t bring in cameras or pens, the artist is acting as a “secondary witness.” Look for art that feels like it is listening to the story, not just decorating it.
- Avoiding Stereotypes: Be wary of art that relies on cliches (e.g., just showing bars or handcuffs). Prioritize art that shows the person, their dreams, or their specific cultural heritage.
Accessibility: Since these are for social media, the most effective pieces are often those with a strong focal point that remains clear even on a small phone screen.
Humans of ICE 