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 — Yesterday news broke of the Trump administration beginning to detain families at the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley, Texas (nicknamed Dilley). The facility will detain up to 2,400 families.
Washington DC — In response to Trump’s joint congressional address, Silky Shah, Executive Director of Detention Watch Network, issued the following statement:
Washington, DC — This week, the Trump administration’s cruel, multi-layered immigration detention expansion plan moved full steam ahead with the news of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention contract approvals in Ohio, New Jersey, Nevada, Oklahoma, and Mississippi. This comes the same week the administration launched a concerted effort to target unaccompanied children, and a week after the tragic death of Maksym Chernayak, 44, who died in ICE custody on February 20 in Florida.
Washington, DC — Esta semana, el plan cruel y multidimensional de la administración de
Trump para la expansión de la detención migratoria ha seguido adelante viento en popa con
noticias de aprobaciones de contratos del Servicio de Inmigración y Aduanas (ICE por sus siglas
en ingles) en Ohio, Nueva Jersey, Nevada, Oklahoma, y Mississisippi. Esto sucedió la misma
semana que la administración lanzó un esfuerzo dedicado a enfocarse en menores sin
acompañamiento, una semana después de la trágica muerte de Maksym Chernayak, 44, que
United States – This week, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reported the death of Maksym Chernayak, 44, who died in ICE custody on February 20 after being detained at the Krome Service and Processing Center in Florida. Chernakyak’s tragic passing marks the third reported death in ICE custody since Donald Trump assumed the presidency. Serawit Gezahegn Dejene, 45, died on January 29 in ICE custody after being detained at the Eloy Detention Center in Arizona, and Genry Ruiz Guillen, 29, died on January 23 after being detained at the Krome Service Processing Center.
Washington, DC — This week, over 200 human rights organizations focused on advancing immigrant and racial justice, safeguarding democracy, and protecting our civil rights and liberties, sent a letter to Congress. In the letter, the organizations demanded Congress reject funding for the Trump Administration’s extreme and unprecedented multi-pronged expansion of the immigrant detention system. Trump’s plans would more than triple the size of immigration detention to detain over 120,000 people, including U.S. citizens and families.
Washington, DC — This week, both chambers of Congress are moving forward a budget process to supercharge President Trump’s agenda. Today the Senate will consider a budget resolution that will propel the reconciliation process forward with a bill that focuses on immigration and defense spending. At the same time, the House of Representatives is working toward its resolution that combines immigration, defense and taxes, among other things, into one resolution.
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.
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:
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.
