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| Illustration-Mitch Blunt |
In the growing conversation around immigration and detention in the U.S., one group remains heartbreakingly invisible: African migrants, particularly French-speaking men from countries like Mauritania, Senegal, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, who have been quietly detained by ICE.
These young men, many of whom arrived here seeking asylum from deeply entrenched systems of racial, ethnic, and political violence, are now imprisoned in facilities far from community, legal support, and basic human connection. They are frightened. They are confused. And they are largely forgotten.
I know this personally. A dear friend of mine, a Mauritanian asylum seeker, was detained after showing up as he was supposed to for his annual ICE check-in. He is now held in an ICE facility in rural Pennsylvania. His story is not unique.
What is not making headlines is that hundreds of French-speaking African migrants have recently been detained in similar ways. Many of them did nothing wrong. They followed the rules, checked in regularly, worked hard and lived peacefully in our communities. But they now sit in ICE detention centers, facing an uncertain future and an immigration system that is rarely prepared to support non-Spanish-speaking detainees. Language barriers, cultural isolation, and legal confusion compound their fear.
According to the independent news outlet Prism, as the number of African migrants in ICE custody grows, “ICE still fails to collect or report accurate racial and ethnic data. Advocacy groups like the Black Alliance for Just Immigration and the American Immigration Council have found that many Black African detainees from countries like Mauritania, Mali, and Senegal are routinely misclassified as “white,” effectively erasing their experiences and making it nearly impossible to address the racial disparities they face in detention.”
This data gap means that Black African detainees, already vulnerable, are pushed further into the margins, their needs unseen and their stories untold.
So what can we do?
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| These titles represent the kinds of French-language books that can uplift and connect African migrants currently held in ICE detention. You don’t need to send these exact books, just let this image serve as inspiration for the kinds of stories, voices, and formats that resonate. |
We can offer books which are a lifeline for the spirit. A means of connection. A
form of resistance.
I’ve recently reached out to Books Through Bars Philadelphia to raise awareness about this urgent need. If enough of us express interest and send appropriate French-language books, they may be able to help get these materials to African detainees in ICE custody in our region. I encourage you to contact them directly to ask about donating books specifically for this purpose and to let them know there’s a community ready to support this mission. I'm calling on those who care about justice and human dignity to donate French-language books to Books Through Bars Philadelphia. This incredible grassroots organization has long worked to send books to incarcerated individuals.
But not just any books. These men need books that reflect their experiences
that are accessible to those with interrupted education and that affirm
their cultural identity.
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| You don’t have to order these exact titles. This list is meant to serve as a guide for the kinds of French-language books that would be meaningful and accessible to African migrants currently in ICE custody. |
What to Donate:
Other Tips for Donors:
Many of these young men were not able to finish high school or university. That’s why accessible language, engaging plots, and strong cultural relevance matter. Books can offer relief, affirmation, and a reminder that they are not alone. For those who want to drop off books directly, call Books Through Bars Philadelphia and find out from them as to the best dates and times to get books to them.If you can’t donate books, please share this post. And if you would like to sponsor shipping costs or volunteer with Books Through Bars, reach out to them directly. Together, we can bring light into dark places. Here is needed contact information. Books Through Bars Philadelphia 4722 Baltimore Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19143 215-727-8170 * If you’re moved to take action, whether by donating a book, sharing this post, or reaching out to Books Through Bars Philadelphia, I’d love to know. Feel free to leave a comment at the end of this blog. It can be submitted anonymously. This helps build a sense of collective care and momentum.
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