JUNTOS Statement Regarding the Deportation of Christian M’Bagoyi
Philadelphia - With pain in our hearts, we write to you to confirm that our friend and neighbor, Christian M’Bagoyi, was deported to West Africa yesterday by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Despite an outpouring of public support, involvement by local congressional leaders, and engagement with high-level contacts in the Department of Homeland Security and the White House– our inhumane and unjust immigration system did not bend, and instead chose to tear a father away from his wife, Sarika Kumar M’Bagoyi, and their two daughters, both under the age of five.
This fight was not new. Two years ago, we launched a campaign to keep Christian home after the threat of a “final check-in” and imminent detention by ICE. Our efforts bought the family something priceless: more time. With this gift, Christian and Sarika moved to South Philadelphia and bought a home, where they raised their daughters with love and security.
On April 19, 2023, that all changed. Christian was detained by ICE on the front steps of his home after dropping his children off at school. In the span of two weeks, he was forcibly moved to three separate detention centers in Pennsylvania, Louisiana, and Texas before his ultimate deportation on a chartered flight to West Africa. During his time in detention, Christian was unable to make contact with his lawyer and eventually began a hunger strike in protest. At the time of his deportation, Christian had a pending motion to reopen his case before the Board of Immigration appeals.
At JUNTOS, we recognize and uplift that immigration laws in this country are rooted in white supremacy and anti-blackness. Black immigrants face a life of double jeopardy– constantly targeted by police and immigration enforcement, while facing disproportionate rates of detention and deportation. We firmly believe that the merits of Christian staying in this country, like many other immigrants, outweigh any factors that led to DHS’ decision to deport him. We will continue fighting for Christian and Sarika, and remain committed to helping them secure a future where their family can be together once more.
Next Steps:
If you would like to support Christian, Sarika, and their daughters in the next phase of their life, please donate to the GoFundMe organized by their friends and neighbors
If you would like to support JUNTOS in our organizing work against detention and deportations, consider becoming a volunteer
We thank our many friends and allies who fought alongside us to keep Christian home. To our friends at VietLead, National Legal Advocacy Network, Undocublack, Free Migration Project, New Sanctuary Movement, Pennsylvania Immigrant Citizenship Coalition, Woori Center, Nationalities Service Center, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts. To elected leadership who supported us; former Councilmember Helen Gym, Senator Fetterman, Senator Casey, and Congressman Evans, we appreciate your leadership.
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Juntos is a community led organization based in South Philadelphia that has been fighting for human rights as workers, parents, youth, and immigrants. We believe that every human being has the right to a quality education and the freedom to live with dignity regardless of immigration status.