Our latest press releases on important news and events relating to immigration detention in the United States
For media inquiries contact: media@detentionwatchnetwork.org
Washington, DC — In response to President Biden’s executive orders on immigration today, Silky Shah, Executive Director of Detention Watch Network offered the following statement:
Lumpkin, Georgia — Immigrants’ rights organizations El Refugio, Georgia Detention Watch, Project South and Georgia Latino Alliance for Human Rights (GLAHR) in Georgia and Detention Watch Network are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Felix Montes de Oca, 57, while in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at the Stewart Detention Center. Montes died due to COVID-19 related complications.
Washington, DC — Detention Watch Network and Freedom for Immigrants delivered a letter to the Biden-Harris administration on behalf of 215 immigrant and human rights groups demanding President Biden address the spread of COVID-19 inside immigration detention by releasing everyone within the administration’s first 100 days.
Washington, DC — In response to President Biden’s executive order on eliminating the use of private prisons, Silky Shah, Executive Director of Detention Watch Network offered the following statement:
“We are encouraged that the Biden administration’s Department of Justice is prioritizing phasing out the use of private prisons — a decision that was made too late in the Obama administration and was immediately reversed by Trump.
Washington, DC — In response to internal emails by Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Houston Field Office stating to 'release them all' per Biden’s deportations moratorium memo, Silky Shah, Executive Director of Detention Watch Network offered the following comment:
Washington, DC — In response to President Biden’s memorandum directing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to conduct a review of policies and practices concerning immigration enforcement which includes interim enforcement priorities and a 100-day moratorium on deportations, Silky Shah, Executive Director of Detention Watch Network offered the following statement:
Washington, DC — In response to the inauguration of Joe Biden as the 46th president of the United States, Silky Shah, Executive Director of Detention Watch Network offered the following statement:
Washington, DC — In response to President Biden’s day one agenda on immigration, Silky Shah, Executive Director of Detention Watch Network offered the following statement:
Washington, DC — Right now there are 15,415 people in immigration detention — the lowest number since 1999 when there were 17,772 people. However, this number does not reflect immigrant rights advocates’ resolute demands to free all people from detention, nor public outcry over Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)’s unjust and fundamentally flawed system.
Washington, DC — Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) failed pandemic response substantially increased the number of COVID-19 cases in the U.S., according to “Hotbeds of Infection,” a new report released today by Detention Watch Network.
