Our latest press releases on important news and events relating to immigration detention in the United States
For media inquiries contact: media@detentionwatchnetwork.org
In response to Ravi Ragbir, longtime immigrant rights activist, receiving a presidential pardon, Silky Shah, Executive Director of Detention Watch Network, released the following statement:
Washington D.C — This week, the newly inaugurated U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation that, among other things, would massively expand mandatory detention requirements for immigrants who have been convicted, charged, or merely arrested for certain theft offenses. The bill also gives states broad standing to sue the federal government on many immigration actions, from broad policy decisions to individual case decisions.
Washington, DC — Today, 193 immigrant justice organizations sent a letter to President Biden and Department of Homeland Security Secretary, Alejandro Mayorkas, urging the administration to take decisive action to prevent catastrophe for millions of people and avoid handing the keys to an expanded and inhumane detention and deportation system to the next administration.
Specifically, the letter implores the administration to:
Washington, D.C. — In response to Tom Homan’s new appointment as ‘Border Czar’ for the incoming Trump administration, Setareh Ghandehari, Advocacy Director of Detention Watch Network offered the following statement:
In response to Donald Trump returning to the White House, Silky Shah, Executive Director of Detention Watch Network offered the following statement:
En respuesta al regreso de Donald Trump a la Casa Blanca, Silky Shah, Directora Ejecutiva de Detention Watch Network ofreció la siguiente declaración:
Eloy, Arizona — Today, Detention Watch Network, Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project, and Trans Queer Pueblo released an ‘Anthology of Abuse’ on the Eloy Detention Center (Eloy) in Eloy, Arizona. Eloy has gained notoriety as the "deadliest immigration detention center in the U.S.," with at least 16 reported deaths, including five suicides. The report calls for the release of people detained and the permanent closure of the facility immediately.
Washington, DC – Today, a delegation of immigrant justice advocates and people who have experienced immigration detention representing Arizona, California, Louisiana, New Mexico, Virginia and Pennsylvania will meet with their elected officials and key members of Congress to discuss the alarming abuses in immigration detention, negative impact of the detention and immigration enforcement system on local communities, and make the following demands:
Los Angeles, CA – Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is seeking to expand immigration detention capacity in the West with the potential to impact Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona, Texas and New Mexico. Posted in August, ICE’s West Coast Multi-State Request for Information (RFI), is seeking detention capacity of 850 to 950 additional detention beds within a two hour drive for each of the following ICE field office locations: Phoenix, El Paso, Seattle, and San Francisco.
Washington, DC – Today, 221 immigrant justice organizations sent a letter to the Department of Homeland Security Secretary, Alejandro Mayorkas, urging the administration to halt Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) immigration detention expansion efforts, while restoring free phone access to people in detention, and protecting the basic rights of the people in the agency’s custody.
