The Return of Family Detention is Unconscionable
February 11, 2025
Washington, DC — The Trump administration is preparing to publish a Request for Proposal (RFP) for private prison companies to reinstate family detention, according to new reporting.
Pressroom
Our latest press releases on important news and events relating to immigration detention in the United States
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Detention Watch Network: The administration’s solicitation of shipping containers to detain people is outrageous and enraging
February 6, 2025
Washington, DC — In response to an alarming report that the Trump administration is considering utilizing shipping-containers to detain people in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody, Setareh Ghandehari, advocacy director at Detention Watch Network, issued the following statement:
Notorious Alabama detention center to re-open three years after its celebrated closure
February 5, 2025
Washington, DC — This week at the National Sheriffs’ Association’s annual conference, Sheriff Jonathan Horton said the Etowah County Jail (Etowah) in Alabama will soon detain people in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody. With a capacity of over 865 beds, Etowah has not detained people in ICE custody since ending its contract in March 2022 amidst longstanding criticism and well-documented abuse.
Unprecedented plans to expand immigration detention system will have real life human and economic consequences
February 4, 2025
Washington, DC — The Trump administration is dangerously moving full steam ahead with unprecedented plans to expand Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) immigration detention system.
Trump’s use of Guantánamo Bay to detain migrants on U.S. soil is unprecedented; Will put lives in danger and tear apart families
February 4, 2025
Washington, DC — The Trump administration has begun detaining migrants at Guantánamo Bay, with two flights occurring this week from Fort Bliss carrying roughly a dozen people. In response to this news, Stacy Suh, Program Director of Detention Watch Network issued the following statement:
Colorado military base named as a part of Trump’s plan to double immigration detention capacity
February 3, 2025
Denver, CO — Last week it was reported that the Buckley Space Force Base in Colorado will detain people in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody, revealing one of the first locations of Trump’s plan to more than double ICE’s immigration detention capacity.
Use of Guantánamo Bay to detain people is the latest in Trump’s shocking plan to more than double immigration detention capacity
January 29, 2025
Washington, DC — Today, Trump announced he will sign an executive order to detain 30,000 people at Guantánamo Bay, a military base in Cuba.
Immigrant Justice Advocates Denounce Trump’s Plan to Double Immigration Detention Capacity
January 28, 2025
Washington, DC — Last week The Washington Post obtained a report that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is seeking to more than double its immigration detention capacity by opening four new 10,000 bed detention facilities, as well as 14 smaller sites with space for 700 to 1,000 people.
New DHS Directives Will Unleash Lasting Harm and Suffering
January 22, 2025
In response to the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) directives to rescind the Sensitive locations memo, expanding targeting and arrests, and ending humanitarian parole, Setareh Ghandehari, Advocacy Director of Detention Watch Network issued the following statement:
Detention Watch Network denounces Trump’s ruthless executive orders that will dehumanize and criminalize immigrants
January 21, 2025
Washington, D.C. — Yesterday, Donald Trump issued a slew of immigration related executive orders that criminalize and demonize immigrants. People across the country are swiftly denouncing the executive orders as an attack on our shared values of dignity, freedom, and opportunity that the majority of Americans deeply believe in.