Everlee Update + THANK YOU
We hear Everlee's voice, and the pressure is finally on.
Hi,
Thanks to you sharing my Webworm stories, emailing politicians, and making loud noises – Everlee's story has blown up, getting widespread coverage.
The pressure is on: Her case is being talked about in New Zealand's parliament, and for the first time the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade has confirmed they are in touch with ICE.
This is huge.
Most importantly, Everlee Wihongi is back on the grid. We know where she is.
Everlee's Location
As previously reported, Everlee was originally being held in California. Then, just as she was about to meet with her lawyer, she was moved. For a time she was listed as being detained at the notorious "Camp East Montana" at Fort Bliss, Texas. Then she dropped off the map.
Late on Sunday night, she was back on ICE's database – but with no guide on where she was. "Call ICE for Details" was as much as we got.
Webworm has audio from a call Everlee made during that time:
The good news is that we now have her location again: She's being held at the "Eloy Federal Contract Facility", essentially a private prison operated by CoreCivic. It spans seven football fields and holds 1600 detainees.
The bad news is that Eloy is fairly horrific:
Since its ICE contract began, the facility has faced repeated scrutiny. A U.S. Department of Homeland Security watchdog report last year found staff failed to preserve video from several use-of-force incidents, limiting investigators’ ability to review what occurred. Members of Congress and advocacy groups have also cited allegations from detainees describing harsh conditions and mistreatment.
If you want to learn more about where Everlee is imprisoned, this report is a good place to start: "Medical Neglect, Strip Searches, and Abuse: Deadly and Dehumanizing Conditions in the Eloy Detention Center (June 2024-November 2025)".
Thanks To You, Everlee's Story Is Being Told
After Webworm broke the story about Everlee disappearing, her story is being widely reported across the New Zealand media, including 1News, ThreeNews, RNZ, Stuff and the NZ Herald.
I've also given a few TV news interviews in order to help spread the story further.
Finally, I've passed the contact details for certain interested media outlets (and grassroots organisations) onto Everlee's mother Betty, so she has the opportunity to tell her story in other places. It's been amazing to see her story spread:
Radio New Zealand has been doing amazing work, Mihi Forbes and Lucy Xia reporting that The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has finally decided to actually do something (not much, but something):
Foreign Minister Winston Peters' office said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade's (MFAT) consular team have been in contact with ICE officials to clarify what Everlee Wihongi has been charged with.
This is the first time the government has confirmed any direct contact with US officials since Wihongi's detention on 10 April.
As you will recall, the first thing Winston Peters did was make a blanket statement to the New Zealand media that Everlee Wihongi had lied on an immigration form. As Webworm pointed out, Winston was absolutely full of shit.
But the damage was done. Most of New Zealand decided Everlee Wihongi was a brown criminal who deserved what she got. Every news story posted on social media about Everlee Wihongi was riddled with Peters' disinformation.
RNZ has also talked to Everlee's lawyer in a really insightful conversation. He talks about the stuff Webworm reported on last month – that Everlee has two weed offenses from over a decade ago, and she got really shitty advice from her lawyer (who has since been disbarred).
In all of this, Winston Peters himself still largely gives zero fucks, The Post writing:
Foreign Affairs Minster Winston Peters says New Zealand citizen Everlee Wihongi would have to be facing the death penalty in America in order for him to intervene.
One can't help but wonder how this would be playing out if Everlee was a white influencer.
What Can You Do?
As I said earlier, Webworm readers have been amazing. You have been sharing all my stories from www.webworm.co in a way I've never seen before.
That's the whole idea of Webworm: I report here, and it spreads.
Thanks to anyone new here who's signed up to the free or paid version of this newsletter!
If you're in New Zealand, reach out to your local MP or Winston Peters' office. Try to stay measured. Write from the heart, but with the facts you have. The pressure is helping: Politicians are stepping up and questioning the government's pathetic response.
There is a gathering planned this Saturday at 1pm outside MFAT in Auckland, New Zealand. And remember the GoFundMe for Everlee's legal defence.
To be clear – Everlee's situation is still dire. There is no clear timeline to when this will be resolved. ICE are good at moving people around so they miss court dates. Sometimes they disappear. Sometimes they die. Which is why – as her family and lawyer do the work – we must keep the pressure on.
Again, thank you Webworm family for caring about this. Everlee's aunt Jen left this comment under my last piece. It's for you, too:
"Our whanau are truly grateful for your continued attention on this. We are grateful for your platform. It’s what journalism is supposed to be about. In fact Betty was saying that you are whanau now. Meitaki Ma’ata- Cook Islands word for thank you."
David.
