Alex Legasov

MARCH 2021

Alex, from the former USSR and currently under ICE custody at Krome Processing Center in Miami, started a hunger strike on March 11 and a water strike on March 14 to demand his freedom.

Alex has no country of origin to return to if deported.

He is far from his family and home in Florida. He is almost 60 years old and has a host of medical issues, including high blood pressure and pre-diabetes. He could lose his vision at any moment, and states his vision is already getting blurry. Despite deciding to drink water again, on 3/26/21, he was put on suicide watch (i.e. solitary confinement) and denied water and medication. They had stripped off his clothes and moved him to be watched. On 3/31/21, his ex-wife reported that he was beaten by the guards twice, taken to the hospital, then transferred to Krome in Miami.

My name is Alex Legasov and I am resident of state of Florida. I came to United States in 1993 actually I came from modern Russia. I came from Soviet Union. My country does not exist anymore. Now ICE, they try to deport me to Russia, and I’m on hunger strike and water strike now because I am ___ system and this case supposed to ___ but I can’t understand why they keep me in custody because I never ever been violent towards them. I never ever became violent; not even violent crimes or any violent action. I am older guy I am almost 60 years old. I got a lot of medical complications, a lot of medical problems and I am not asking ICE to close my case tomorrow. The case show must go on, please do your job; but please let me go home.

I got family, I got job, I got house, I got everything I got very very strong ties to community, I never you can ask my community. They know me like, very peaceful and nonviolent and very good man. And let me go home please, let me stay there but ___ eventually the __ make decision I don’t belong this country, I will never resist.

It’s not my lifestyle, I’m not spy I cannot hide myself. I have my plans to leave; I probably move to Russia, maybe different country, but I believe it takes long time - maybe 1 year maybe 2 years maybe even 5 years, no body knows. I spoke to ICE maybe 10 times and they agreed with me - yes, very very long wait to finish my case. Please let me go home and let me stay home, let see my family, let me see my wife, my son, let me work, let me support my family. I think it’s -- I’m not stupid, I’m not crazy, and I’m not asking quite crazy things I think my request is very reasonable . Thank you.