In Her Words: Alejandra, An Immigrant Woman Abused in Detention, Asks "Aren’t we all human?"

This is the last in our series this month of testimonies from women and children speaking out against Arizona's SB 1070, 287(g) and other laws and policies that inappropriately implicate state and local police in federal immigration work, that reduce community trust in law enforcement, that keep victims and witnesses from reporting crimes to police, that threaten public safety and that separate families.

Alejandra, an immigrant woman, mother and worker was arrested, insulted and abused by sherriff's deputies. Her chilling testimony describes a harrowing experience in custody. She was thrown against a wall by deputies, was beaten with a clipboard and had her jaw dislocated. She makes an urgent appeal to Congress and the Obama Administration to consider her human rights. Speaking of migrants, she asks, "Aren’t we all human? My blood is red and I imagine yours is too. There is no difference."

This series attempts to give another platform to brave, real women and children who have been abused and dismissed by state and local police attempting to function as immigration agents--and shirking their primary responsibility of serving and protecting their communities. These testimonies were offered before members of Congress who convened an ad hoc hearing on June 10th on the specific impact of Arizona's SB 1070 and related laws on women and children. This hearing was coordinated by several rights' groups including the Puente Movement, the National Domestic Workers Alliance, the National Day Laborer Organizing Network, Family Values at Work Consortium and the AFL-CIO.

My name is Alejandra Alvarez. I was arrested on Feb 11, 2009 and suffered from physical abuse.  I was in jail for three months, and my jaw was dislocated when the sheriffs's deputies threw me against a wall, and my face hit first, in one of the beatings.  I was also beat with a clipboard, which still leaves a scar on my left arm.

During the time I was incarcerated I was denied medical attention. It wasn't until 15 days after I requested help, that I was granted it. I never thought something like this could happen to me.

After I was released I could not sleep for days. I was afraid that when I would wake up I would be back in jail. During my time there I was called a bitch, Doggie, and degraded in so many ways by the female sheriffs who work there. They would take my bible, throw it in the trash and would not give it back. I was treated worse than an animal.

I was separated from my four children; the youngest one was only three months old. My five-year-old child almost lost his life, because he has asthma, and no one was taking care of him but my husband who had to work. This sounds small but it had a huge impact on my family’s life and on mine.  I ask myself: why did I suffer so much, if I was only working? I never meant to hurt anyone. Every check I cashed, I earned with my own sweat. My job was to clean the streets and highways, rain or shine.  Now that I am out I have had many medical problems related to the beatings: surgery in my jaw, ulcers in my stomach, pain and scars left inside and out.

Why do they criticize us? It is true we are migrants, but why do they never ask us: Why did you come? Or how much did you suffer to get here? How many family members are left crying and waiting for you? Many times, we lose our lives in trying to realize our dream of coming to this country. But the worse thing is to lose our dignity. While I was detained, I could hear insults like: "Go back to Mexico. Get out of here, Illegal. Wetback.” These hurt our self-esteem.

I only have one question for the President and Congress: Aren’t we all human? My blood is red and I imagine yours is too. There is no difference.