Thank you deeply for your interest in sending love to Juan Jose as we fight for his freedom and the freedom of all others who are incarcerated. Love letters are so crucial to community care, we need to remind ourselves that we are here to fight for each other, that we will keep each other other safe, and that we all deserve to live in a world without the carceral state. Please read over Juan Jose's story listed below before selecting your participation. Looking forward to sharing space with you. As always, FTP <33

Juan Jose Erazo Herrera came to the U.S as an unaccompanied minor in 2016. He had been suffering from child abuse from his mother and eventually became homeless in El Salvador, which made him susceptible to police violence and gangs threatening his life. When Juan Jose entered the U.S he was apprehended by ICE at the Texas border and released to his brother in New York.
In February 2017, police profiled him as a gang member—without any evidence—and arrested him for being present during an assault on a classmate. He spent 6 months in county jail and another 6 months in juvenile hall as a result. When he was released, ICE picked him up and brought him to Yolo County (ORR “secure” facility) here in California.
Juan Jose has been in immigration detention for 1 year now and 1 year in juvenile detention and county jail. He has lost 2 years of his life to this system that does not work to repair harm. He was 17 years old the last time he was free and turned 19 yrs on March 15th.
Juan Jose was only ever in the juvenile justice system, and in the state of New York, there is a state law that prohibits the disclosure of juvenile justice records, and yet New York correctional officials illegally released these records to ICE, who used them during his immigration bond hearing as evidence that he was allegedly a gang member and a danger to the community. His bond was denied.
Juan Jose has been fighting for his freedom inside detention and has taken part in two hunger strikes that happened in Yuba where detainees were demanding better conditions.