Contact: Nuestra Palabra Office (832) 664 - 1180, info@nuestrapaalbra.org,

Director Nuestra Palabra

Monday, May 11, 2025, Houston, Texas. Nuestra Palabra and the Librotraficantes are proud to organize a 5-Texas city tour for the powerful memoir DETAINED by D. Esperanza and Gerardo Ivan Morales. During the first Trump Administration, D. Esperanza was only a teenager when he was detained at the Immigration Detention Center in Tornillo, Texas, just outside of El Paso. He snuck in a notebook to tell his story. This May, that story becomes the book DETAINED with co-writer Gerardo Iván Morales.

“This is about Precious Freedom of Speech. As a wave of censorship sweeps the nation, Americans must unite so that everyone can tell their story. We must support public libraries and community libraries, and we must start or stock underground libraries," said Professor Tony Diaz, El Librotraficante, Director of Nuestra Palabra.

"In Detained, D. Esparza and Gerardo Ivan Morales bring hidden struggles into the light. The YWCA Greater Austin honors this act of courage and continues the fight for a world rooted in equity and human dignity,” said Laura Razo from the YWCA board in Austin, Texas.

"In turbulent times, we do not retreat — we persevere! We stand for immigrant rights with unwavering courage, knowing that every act of solidarity builds the future our communities deserve," said Dr. Rosamaria Murillo, Chief Executive Officer, El Buen Samaritano, in El Paso, Texas.

The evening will be hosted by NP founder and director Professor Tony Diaz, El Librotraficante. 

Purchase extra copies to donate to the community and under ground libraries Nuestra Palabra and the Librotraficantes are organizing. If someone you know misses the event, tell them to order their copy at www.NuestraPalabra.org.

Sponsors:

Borderlands Shakespeare Colectiva, YWCA of Greater Austin, El Paso Public Library, Houston Public Library, El Buen Samaritano, Que Onda Magaznie, Monday Paper, HABLA, The Law Office of Carolina Ortuzar-Diaz, PLLC, The BIPOC Arts and Network Fund - BANF, Librotraficante, The Falstaff, Oak Cliff Cultural Center, FIEL

Cities

• Austin, Texas May 15, 2025
• San Antonio, Texas May 17, 2025
• Houston, Texas May 21, 2025
• El Paso, Texas, May 24, 2025: D. Esparanza was detained in Tornillo, TX, just outside of El Paso
• Dallas, Texas May 30, 2025



Email us to get involved: info@NuestraPalabra.org

Contact: info@NuestraPalabra.org, (832) 664-1180

Pre-orders: https://www.nuestrapalabra.org/products/detained