Pressroom

Our latest press releases on important news and events relating to immigration detention in the United States

For media inquiries contact: media@detentionwatchnetwork.org

DWN denounces the use of DOD facilities to expand ICE detention

May 16, 2019

Washington, DC — In response to the news that the Department of Defense is colluding with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to expand the immigration detention system with six tent detention camps to house 7,500 migrants, Silky Shah, Executive Director of Detention Watch Network, issued the following statement:

Second death in Arizona detention centers in just a month as Trump looks to expand the system through an expedited funding request

May 7, 2019

Phoenix, AZ — Detention Watch Network, Indivisible Project and Faith in Action’s immigrants’ rights program, LA RED are demanding an immediate investigation and public release of the findings related to the death of Simratpal Singh. Singh, 21, died on May 3 while in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody after being detained at the La Paz County Jail.

Defund Hate Coalition Rejects Calls for Additional ICE and CBP Funding

May 1, 2019

Washington, DC — Today the Trump Administration sent Congress a $4.5 billion supplemental funding package. The expedited funding request, to increase resources yet again for this fiscal year, will expand the already massive immigration enforcement apparatus that tears apart families, further militarizes our southern border, and violates human rights with impunity.

The Defund Hate Coalition issued the following statement urging Congress to reject the supplemental funding:

Barr’s decision is the latest move to massively expand deadly immigration detention

April 17, 2019

Washington, DC—In response to U.S. Attorney General William Barr’s ruling to thwart asylum seekers right to bond, Silky Shah, Executive Director of Detention Watch Network, issued the following statement:

“Cloaked in a bureaucratic process change, this is an all out assault in the Trump Administration’s war on immigrants. Barr’s decision to deny many asylum seekers the opportunity to ask for bond will lead to a massive increase in indefinite immigration detention.

ICE actively hides information regarding the death of a 27 year old in immigration detention

April 10, 2019

Adelanto, CA — Detention Watch Network and the Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice are demanding an immediate investigation and public release of the findings related to the death of José Ibarra Bucio. Ibarra Bucio, 27, died on February 7 while in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody after being detained at the Adelanto Detention Center. Two months later, ICE has yet to publicly report any details on Ibarra Bucio’s tragic death.

The death toll in ICE custody rises, groups demand an immediate investigation

April 6, 2019

Florence, AZ — Members of the Defund Hate coalition and local immigrant rights groups are demanding an immediate investigation and public release of the findings related to the death of Abel Reyes-Clemente. Reyes-Clemente, 54, died on April 3 while in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody after being detained at the Florence Service Processing Center.

#DefundHate Escalates Campaign to Cut Funding for ICE, CBP in 2020

March 19, 2019

Washington, D.C. — The #DefundHate coalition announced today the next phase of its national campaign to defund Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Both agencies have well-documented track records of abuse and have repeatedly thwarted oversight and accountability. CBP and ICE play a key role in Trump’s anti-immigrant agenda, and are instrumental in carrying out the militarization of border communities, devastating deportations of individuals and families, and the unconscionable detention of migrants.

#DefundHate Coalition Condemns Trump’s Anti-Immigrant FY20 Budget

March 11, 2019

Washington, DC — The Defund Hate Coalition issued the following statement in response to President Trump’s budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2020:

Dwight community battles against private immigrant prison despite efforts by the Mayor to greenlight the proposal and stifle opposition

March 9, 2019

Dwight, IL — Community members of Dwight expressed shock upon learning of the cancellation of today’s information session at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church regarding a massive detention center proposal, even as opposition to the proposal continues to grow.

Groups demand an immediate investigation into the medical care a mother received in ICE detention, after her pregnancy ended in a stillbirth

February 28, 2019

Los Fresnos, TX — Members of the #DefundHate coalition and a local immigrant rights group are deeply saddened to learn of a stillborn baby at the Port Isabel Detention Center on February 22, as the mother was held in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody for nearly a week following the tragedy.

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