LYNN – Lynn community members are calling for local leaders to release asylum seeker Emmanuel Kenga, who was detained by ICE last week.
Kenga currently works as a home health aide to senior citizens and is also a truck driver for New Lynn Coalition’s grocery delivery program. When he failed to show up for work last Thursday, it was revealed that he had been taken into custody after appearing in person for his scheduled asylum appointment in Burlington.
Originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenga sought asylum in the U.S. after his father was killed by supporters of Democratic Republic of the Congo political leaders. He now has a work permit as his legal asylum case is pending, and he is currently in custody in Batavia, New York.
ICE agents allegedly told Kenga that even though he has no criminal record, they had to follow orders from the Trump administration, according to New Lynn Coalition former Executive Director Jeff Crosby.
“His own necessity of seeking asylum did not seem to dampen his spirits. He’s reliable and hardworking, the exact kind of person we want in our community. He’s the exact type of person the president said he would not deport. We want him home and granted asylum so he can continue to be there for our community,” Crosby said.
He added, “Since he came here, he has devoted himself to our community. He’s an extraordinary human being. He always has a smile on his face, and even when he doesn’t have much himself, he just wants to give back.”
Danny Timpona, organizing director at Neighbor to Neighbor and Lynn community member, also condemned ICE for detaining Kenga.
“This detention is unjust and unacceptable. Emmanuel was doing the right thing by following the law, yet still he was detained and taken away from his community without any notice or information. His detention is a clear attack on the values of compassion, justice, and solidarity that are the very foundation on which our society is built,” Timpona wrote in a press release.
A GoFundMe from New Lynn Coalition is currently collecting donations for legal fees, living expenses, and emergency support for Kenga’s case. Donations can be made at https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-a-detained-community-hero
