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

The killing of George Floyd awakened the public to the disproportionate impact of the criminal punishment system on Black and brown communities

April 20, 2021

Washington, DC  — In response to the guilty verdict on all three charges of Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd, Silky Shah, Executive Director of Detention Watch Network offered the following statement:

“Today and always, we are in solidarity with Black people who have faced unjust oppression at the hands of police. This verdict does not change what we know to be true: a racist, unjust carceral system will never deliver true justice for communities of color in the U.S.

183 Immigrant and Human Rights Groups call on the Biden administration to end the practice of holding unaccompanied children in HHS influx facilities 

April 15, 2021

Washington, DC — Today American Friends Service Committee, CASA, Detention Watch Network, Immigrant Legal Resource Center, Tsuru for Solidarity, and United We Dream delivered a letter to Xavier Becerra, Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Alejandro Mayorkas, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on behalf of 183 immigrant and human rights groups in firm opposition to the use of HHS influx facil

Bill signed into law in Washington State will phase out private prisons. Groups call for immediate closure of the notorious Northwest Detention Center 

April 15, 2021

Seattle, WA  — Today, after years of sustained local activism led by immigrant rights groups in Washington including, La Resistencia and the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, Governor Inslee signed HB1090 into law that will ban the operation of a private detention facility or prison by any person, business, state or local government entity. The bill will eventually close the state’s notorious Northwest Detention Center (NWDC), once the contract terminates, however advocates are demanding the facility be shut down immediately.

Local communities advance state legislation to reduce immigration detention, as Biden has yet to shut down ICE detention centers 

March 17, 2021

Washington, DC  — As calls are intensifying for the Biden administration to fulfill his campaign promise and address Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) deadly detention system, local communities are advancing legislation to take steps toward shutting down facilities and releasing people from ICE custody. Four bills in Maryland, New Jersey, New Mexico and Washington State would significantly reduce the use of immigration detention.

Detention Watch Network Escalates Communities Not Cages Campaign to Shut Down 10 ICE Detention Centers

February 25, 2021

Washington, DC — Today Detention Watch Network (DWN) announced the “First Ten to Communities Not Cages'' campaign, demanding the shut down of 10 immigration detention facilities in the first year of the Biden administration. “First Ten'' is the next phase of DWN’s national Communities Not Cages Campaign to shut down Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention centers and stop the expansion and construction of new facilities.

First death in ICE custody under the Biden Administration

February 1, 2021

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.

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