Josh Lee-Interview

Jenn Cohen | September 6, 2012 | 0 Comments

by Jenn Cohen

Photo Credit: Miles Chrisinger

For anyone who didn’t know the musical brilliance that is Josh Lee, June 4, 2012, most likely changed that. Lee was detained by Immigration at the ICE detention facility in Aurora, with his relationship to national security in question. The Denver music scene promptly rallied behind Lee with a benefit concert, a petition for his release, and “Free Josh Lee” T-shirts, to aid in his legal fees. Lee was subsequently released, but his future in the United States is far from secure. CMB had the opportunity to ask this modest, humble, Midas of a man some questions about his experience.

CMB: Did you know about the outpouring of support from the Denver community while you were incarcerated?

LEE: Although it took me a few days to receive the news, I was very well informed about the support and the effort that was being made by the Denver community while I was incarcerated, and I felt very supported and loved. I was contemplating an immediate deportation on my first day, but after everything I heard about the outpouring of support, it made me realize that this is my home and my country, and that I couldn’t possibly leave without at least putting up a good fight.

CMB: IF you feel comfortable talking about your time spent in ICE, please give us a feel for what you went through, how long you were detained, what the legal struggle ahead looks like, and how you’re spending your days now.

LEE: My experience in ICE was uncomfortable, frustrating, humiliating and stressful. But above all, it was an eye-opening experience that has taught me so much about life here in the United States as an undocumented alien that I thought I could afford to neglect. Some of the people I’ve met inside the ICE, and their stories, make mine much less relevant and important in comparison. It’s tragic to witness the deportation of my 18-year old cellmate from Honduras, whom I stayed up with until 2 AM talking about how he desperately does not want to go back to his narcotics-trafficking family in Honduras. I’ve seen fathers with mouths to feed waiting back home, and grandpas facing deportation with no clue as to what they would do back in their homeland, which they haven’t set foot in the last 30 years. And there were people like me, people who have been brought up here, educated here, and had completely been assimilated to the American culture… individuals that are just as American as any other, with the only difference being that our parents decided to come to the states a few years after we were born.

I’ve witnessed many sad stories while I was incarcerated, and I feel blessed and humbled to have shared those sad moments with some of the poorest souls I’ve ever met. As stressful as this experience has been for me, I wouldn’t have had it any other way.

As far as my future court hearings, I cannot disclose due to legal issues, except that I’m still in removal proceedings and that I’m still facing deportation.

CMB: Your thoughts about the benefit concert and petition, as well as Free Josh Lee T-shirts.

LEE: My first reaction was, “holy hell, I have awesome friends.” I remember trying to explain what was going on to a few of my friends that I had made in the detention facility, and realizing that they all had a look on their faces as if to tell me, “Dude, you’ve been dreaming.” It was very comforting to know that I have so many people that care. I appreciate everyone that was involved with the concert, petition, and those handsome lookin’ T-shirts.

CMB: Do you think Obama’s Undocumented Youth Deportation act will benefit you?

LEE: I certainly hope that it would benefit me, although we’ve got some legal hurdles to get through before I can reap the benefits of the act. I don’t exactly have a clean record, and I believe the relief is only granted to aliens with a squeaky clean criminal record. However, it does benefit people like my sister (who has been a tremendous help throughout this whole mess). I think it’s a good step towards solving the issues of the undocumented youth in America. But it’s no perfect solution by any means. The act only offers temporary (2 years) relief to undocumented aliens who voluntarily come forward and become documented by the states, which brings up a question of, “What happens if the act discontinues?” It would be a real easy way for the government to find and deport these individuals who have voluntarily submitted their information to the government. But as I’ve mentioned before, it’s a step.

CMB: Any shout outs to people who have supported/continue to support you, and anything else that you feel like talking about?

LEE: Everrryyyyyyone. I’m very blessed to have so many great friends and family that support me that I couldn’t even begin to mention all their names without taking up the entire magazine… 🙂

CMB: It seems the music community was drawn even closer together in light of YOU. How does that affect you?

LEE: Nonsense. The Denver music scene has always been close together and supportive, regardless of my detainment. I just got to be on the receiving end of that camaraderie, and was lucky enough to witness how amazing our music scene is. They would’ve done this for any one of us. I’m just fortunate enough to be caught up in the issue that is a popular topic at the moment in this country to receive this much attention.