INS cripples Nigerian in double jeopardy

by a New York Prisoner

24 January 2001

Chikezie Kalu is in a wheelchair now due to an assault by 
prison guards in Hillsborough County Jail in Manchester, New 
Hampshire in December 1999. Kalu awaited deportation back to 
his country Nigeria, which he hasn't lived in since he was 2 
years old, while the United $tates and Nigeria debated his 
fate. 

Kalu does not speak or use the phone due to his 
assault. He has been behind bars for two and a half years 
now, waiting to be deported back to Nigeria by the INS 
because the imperialist court convicted him of a crime when 
he was 17; he is now 24. Kalu did not commit a crime, even 
by imperialist standards, to be put in prison this time. 

The reason he's in prison is because he had a felony conviction 
in his past and the law of 1996 Immigrant Reform and Illegal 
Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act says 
that any immigrant convicted of a felony is to be deported. 

The Boston Globe cited figures indicating an increase in INS 
detainees such as Kalu from 16,500 to 18,500 in the past 
year. About 4000 of these people are "lifers" because they 
will be incarcerated indefinitely due to the refusal of 
their home countries to accept them back. In Kalu's case he 
could spend life in prison, on top of being crippled for 
life, because he allegedly attempted to break and enter and 
he is Nigerian. If Kalu or any immigrant serves their time 
then why do they have to be deported? The reason is that 
these snakes are scared that people of color are growing in 
number too quickly in their U$A. They know that we will be 
the majority and that as oppressed nations, we are aware of 
the treatment we have received at the hands of this country. 
The INS prisons mistreat both male and female prisoners: 
forcing the females to perform sexual acts on prison guards, 
and beating the male prisoners. We cannot let the snakes 
treat us like this and continue to make these laws 
specifically for our people. These laws are in place to 
punish Blacks, Latinos, Asians or anyone else that the 
snakes feel are a threat to them. If we unite as one for the 
cause and endure all hardships, can't no snake hide in our 
grass.

Note: Boston Globe, 31 December 2000