Gabriela MartÃnez, SpotlightPA; How this Pa. grandfather made it out of ICE detention and back to his family
"The first days at Moshannon were the most difficult, Zavala said.
He had to get used to the frigid temperatures inside his block, the bland rice and beans served at mealtime every day, his narrow bed, and feeling like he had no control over his daily routine. Zavala estimates there were about 80 people in his open block.
He coped by building community. He and other detainees created an informal support network, sharing food, trading supplies, and spending time together during recreational periods. Using a water bottle, Zavala and others created refried beans using butter and seasonings purchased at the commissary. They used the ingredients to make sandwiches and other snacks, which they shared and ate together as a group.
Zavala said he made a point of welcoming newly arrived blockmates and offering food because of how difficult his first days in detention had been.
“I believe that the very experiences we go through make us react in a way that helps us become better people and to get along with everyone in a better way," Zavala said.
Many of the men housed alongside Zavala at Moshannon had been there for months while fighting deportation or seeking immigration relief, he said. Nationwide data show that very few people detained by ICE have criminal records. That includes Zavala."
