Georgia lawmakers demand release of detained Gwinnett barber

ICE Police walking in what looks like a detention facility

Georgia lawmakers demand release of detained Gwinnett barber

Georgia lawmakers sent a letter to immigration officials demanding the release of Rodney Taylor due to serious medical concerns.

Taylor, a Gwinnett County barber, has been detained for over a year at Stewart Detention Center.

Taylor was brought to the U.S. from Liberia as a two year old to receive medical care, which resulted in the amputation of both his legs. He never left the U.S.

Several lawmakers, including state Rep. Gabriel Sanchez, signed the letter demanding Taylor’s release and citing conditions at the facility, which have negatively impacted Taylor’s health, including not providing adequate medical treatment.

“We’re going to continue to pressure the federal government to do what is right and to do what is justified. We’re not going to stop fighting no matter what. We have to use every single tool in our arsenal,” Sanchez said.

Taylor had a hearing in August, but Sanchez said they have not received a decision, which was supposed to be given by late October.

“We don’t understand what the holdup is, why there seems to be such a delay, and why they are insistent on continuing to detain him,” Sanchez said.

At the time of a visit with Taylor, he was clothed in a uniform that identifies him as the highest threat level to others at the detention center.

“I’m not sure why they’re treating him so horrifically and seem to be making an example out of him,” Sanchez said.

Taylor is not the only person detained that is suffering from medical conditions.

State Rep. Sanchez, state Rep. Ruwa Romman, state Rep. Eric Bell and state Sen. Josh McLaurin recently visited Taylor and other people in detention. Sanchez said visiting Taylor helped improve his conditions at the facility.

But, Sanchez said there are several people who need medical care and are living in horrific conditions. Sanchez and the other lawmakers met with another individual in need of medical assistance.

“Their medical condition is so terrible that an outside doctor outside of the facility who was allowed to see them said that if they’re not treated soon, they will likely die,” he said. “There are many more folks who are dealing with many, many issues, and… this treatment is just across the board horrific.”

Sanchez said they will use every tool they have to improve the conditions of the people detained at Stewart Detention Center.

“These are just people who are just like you and me, working every day to support their families,” he said. “All we’re asking for is to not criminalize and not attack our communities in this manner, and we’re going to continue to fight for that every single day.”

Here are all the lawmakers who signed the letter: