By Hannah Saunders
After over nine months of detainment in Tacoma’s Northwest Detention Center (NWDC), 44-year-old Garnet Smith, a U.S. Army veteran, has been released following the approval of a habeas corpus ruling. Smith’s release comes just weeks after he spoke out about experiencing sexual assault at the hands of a guard employed by the GEO Group.
“Garnet’s release is a step in the right direction,” a South Sound About Face (SSAF) member said. “Free them all. Abolish ICE. Fascism cannot be reformed.”
Since last fall, several community-based organizations, including SSAF, the Philippines-U.S. Solidarity Organization (PUSO) Tacoma, People’s Defense Collective, PARISOL, Malaya Tacoma, and Defend Migrants Alliance had been pushing for his release.
Originally from Jamaica, Smith joined the Army when he was just 17-years-old, and despite becoming fully disabled, he was never granted U.S. citizenship. When first detained, Smith had a broken hand and spent several months advocating for himself. Once he was finally provided an x-ray, staff admitted that his hand was broken and needed medical care; Smith was transported to hospital in chains.
Smith’s reported sexual assault occurred when a GEO Group guard stopped him and four others in his unit for a pat down search as they were walking towards the law library. According to Smith, the guard aggressively groped him, and his reports to staff were dismissed. Later he and several others in his unit were cuffed and forced to experience an invasive strip search.
Organizers aimed to get Smith released under habeas corpus, and on July 21 he was released.
“The bond hearing he was provided in immigration court was unconstitutional and did not adequately protect him from prolonged detention,” The People’s Defense Collective told TtS.
Groups and community members, including Defend Migrants Alliance, waited outside the detention center for Smith’s release, and Smith thanked all the backing and support.
“This love will never die. It will be forever,” Smith said.
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