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

Immigrant Rights Activists Hold National Day of Action Demanding the Biden Administration Shut Down Detention Centers, End Deportations and Release All People in Immigration Detention

September 23, 2021

Washington, DC — Today, Detention Watch Network, FIRM Action, Mijente, United We Dream and the We Are Home campaign coordinated a “Communities Not Cages'' National Day of Action with 25 actions taking place across the country hosted by local partners, including a press conference and rally in Washington, DC (watch the livestream here).

130+ Groups Release Top Five Immigration Priorities for Biden Administration’s Next Budget

August 16, 2021

Washington, DC — Today, 131 organizations published a statement for the Biden administration outlining the top immigration priorities that must be included in the country’s budget for Fiscal Year 2023.

As the Biden administration begins crafting next year's budget, advocates are sending a strong message that it is long past time for the United States to redirect government funding away from draconian enforcement measures and invest in legal services and community-based programming that enhance our communities’ safety and well-being.

After years of local advocacy, ICE announces its cutting the Bristol County Detention Center’s contract — a huge win for the immigrant rights community

May 20, 2021

North Dartmouth, MA — Today, the FANG Collective and Detention Watch Network are celebrating the news that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will cut the contract at the Bristol County Detention Center in Massachusetts. Along with the end of the Irwin Detention Center contract in Georgia, also announced today, this is the first time ICE has cut a contract for a detention center in recent years.

We Are Home, Detention Watch Network, and partners welcome ICE detention announcement, call for additional actions to cut detention

May 20, 2021

Washington, DC  — Today, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced it will cut the contracts of two detention facilities, Irwin County Detention Center in Ocilla, Georgia, and the Bristol County Detention Center in North Dartmouth, Massachusetts. Irwin is the first detention center in Detention Watch Network’s “First Ten to Communities Not Cages” campaign, launched in February, to be on the path to closure.

Advocates sound the alarm: The number of people in ICE detention spikes under the Biden Administration to over 20k

May 18, 2021

Washington, DC — Detention Watch Network is sounding the alarm that the number of people in Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) detention system has seen a sudden spike under the Biden administration. ICE’s COVID statistics webpage indicates that there are 20,430 people in ICE custody as of May 14, a nearly 33 percent increase since the start of Biden’s administration when there were 15,415 people in ICE custody. 

With the appointment of Gonzalez to ICE Director, Detention Watch Network is eager to see immediate shifts in the agency’s culture and operations

April 27, 2021

Washington, DC — In response to the Biden administration’s appointment of Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez as the Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Silky Shah, Executive Director of Detention Watch Network (DWN) offered the following statement:

“People uniting for the rights and dignity of immigrants will soon have a new face to direct demands to at ICE, which include:

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