On October 1st 2019, our world crashed. 

It was reported that Mr. Nebane Abienwi, 37 year old Cameroonian male, fleeing 5 armed conflicts in Cameroon, trekked 8 countries in South and Central America, crosses the U.S.- Mexican borders near San Diego, California and mysteriously died while at ICE detention.

Why are we writing this petition 5 weeks in?

Well, if the deceased ICE detainee is indeed, Mr. Nebane Abienwi, the last time his family heard from him was in last August 2019. Then suddenly got the call from ICE that their loving father, husband, brother, "Chopchair" (a Bafut Kingdom family title, which means "Successor"?) has stopped breathing. 

We reached out to ICE to ask them for formal authorization to have the wife/next-of-kin of Nebane Abiewi to have access to identify the body. And that we are allowed to follow Bafut cultural norms BEFORE it is sealed and the family can accompany the body back to Cameroon for final burial rites in Bafut culture.

ICE told us they don't have a process to accommodate family members not based in USA. And that we should try Cameroon Embassy.

Cameroon embassy doesn't have biometric passport for ID via dental records or finger prints. And they sent us back to ICE.

We initiatied the #JusticeForAbienwi campaign and we are basically at limbo.

Even though we have led a coalition of Interfaith, Inter-racial, Immigrant activists, artists, academics and allies to raise awareness. We are serving as liasion between the Cameroonian diaspora and Black organizations and other immigrant organizations. With from support from activists and allies we organized:

*Prayers seeking female dieties in all religions including "Takembeng". A female militant spirituality associated with red and white colors from Mr. Abienwi's region in Cameroon

*Three vigils at ICE Headquarters in DC and at the African Entertainment Awards in New Jersey. Nothing.

*Daily of advocacy days at Senate offices in DC and across the USA on our campaigns for Senate to pass the bipartisan Senate Resolution #292 on #CameroonCrisis, which is the root cause of Abienwi fleeing Cameroon and now we need help to have his family identify his body. Nothing.

*Daily social media push to get traditional media and influencers to help us, help family get access to identify body, get him home to Cameroon and seek. Nothing.

Five weeks in and it is clear we need a strategy. So, we are appealing to:

*Ms. Ivanka Trump- on your portfolio for women's issues and your recent post on International Religious Freedom at the UN General Assembly, as a child of an immigrant and a loving mom: Please help a fellow woman, Mrs. Abienwi to come California and to identify the body of her (allegedly) deceased husband at ICE Detention?

*Women of the United States- on a stellar year for women in Congress, we are shocked that your silence on #JusticeForAbienwi and on ZERO women senators as co-sponsors of the Senate Resolution 292 on #CameroonCrisis. Even though women of the House of representatives led a Congressional delegation to observe Cameroon's crisis (Reps Karen Bass and Barbara Lee both of California, where Mr. Abienwi dead), the same women introduced and passed a House resolution on Cameroon. 

As women leaders with immigrants in your own families: Please help a fellow woman, Mrs. Abienwi to come California and to identify the body of her (allegedly) deceased husband at ICE Detention?

We desperately need help to identify him, perform cultural rites and get him buried amongst his ancestors in Cameroon.

Thank you,

Sylvie Qwasinwi Ngassa Bello

#JusticeForAbienwi Campaign Committee

Cameroon American Council

Facebook/Twitter: @CamAmerCouncil