Nehral is currently being held at the Northwest Detention Center. He is one of our many Free Them All campaigns.

"I am a devoted father, loving husband, understanding friend, supportive mentor, protective brother and nurturing son. I came to the US from the Philippines with my family when I was 17, with a green card. I served in the air force, went to college, worked hard to build a career, got married, bought a house, started a family, and established a sense of community. I have been detained at NWIPC in Tacoma, WA for a year. Being separated from my family and community has been devastating. Detainment stripped me of my dignity, humanity and everything I hold dear. We have lost everything in the process; our savings, our kid’s college funds, and soon our home.

I wish to raise awareness of my situation and many like me. I am hoping from this message I can uplift and encourage people to advocate on our behalves. We should not be ripped from our families and have not only our lives destroyed, but our families that are waiting for us. I am the main breadwinner for my family and without me, they are suffering. I have to watch my babies grow up through video chats that costs 27 cents a minute – a call we can only afford once a day for 15 minutes. I’ve missed my youngest child’s first birthday, first steps and now it looks like I will miss her second birthday as well. My oldest is 3 and now has separation anxiety and nightmares that bad men will come and take mommy too. They do not deserve this.

Life in detainment has been difficult. My sentence ended over a decade ago. I paid my dues and worked really hard to not just rehabilitate myself but also reclaim my place in society. The conditions in detention facility are inhumane. I have to see my family through glass, I cannot hold or hug my family, compared to other facilities. My wife spends around $300 in phone costs a month just to be able to maintain communication with me. That’s more than our phone bill.

Before detainment, I battled with severe anxiety, depression, and have had a suicide attempt in the past. I told the mental health provider at this facility that I needed more assistance in the form of medication. It has been 2 months and I have not been seen by a physician or psychologist to be prescribed medication.

I want to advocate for myself and my fellow detainees. We are human beings who deserve to be treated with dignity. I want to advocate for our families on the outside who are suffering and live in fear every day without our support. Please fight for us, be our voice, and stand up to injustice."