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

Public Outcry Pressured Congress to Reject ICE’s Request for More Money in Latest Budget Deal

September 14, 2018

Washington, DC — Yesterday, Congress reached a budget deal to fund the federal government through December 7, avoiding a shutdown. Noticeably absent from the continuing resolution package was a last minute request by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), known as an ‘anomaly,’ to increase funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to further expand the immigration detention system.

Gabriela Benitez, Senior Organizer of Detention Watch Network issued the following statement:

Advocates Demand Congress Stop Detention Funding

September 10, 2018

Washington, DC — Immigrants, faith leaders and advocates from the #DefundHate coalition will gather in the offices of Senator Schumer and Senator Shelby to deliver over 60,000 signatures collected by CREDO, AFSC, and members of the coalition calling for Congress to stop funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). With chants, prayers and stories from those who have been harmed by ICE, participants will call on the Senate to take action. The event will take place on Tuesday, September 11 at 11:00 am in the Senators’ offices.

#DefundHate Coalition Recommends Voting NO on DHS Appropriations Bill

July 19, 2018

Washington, DC — The #DefundHate Coalition recommends that the House Appropriations Committee vote NO next week on the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) FY19 appropriations bill that was introduced on Thursday by the Subcommittee on Homeland Security of the House Appropriations Committee.

This measure includes increased funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to target, incarcerate, and tear families apart, and $5 billion to build 200 miles of new and harmful border walls.

Reported Suicide at Georgia Immigration Detention Center

July 12, 2018

Lumpkin, Georgia  — Immigrant rights organizations, El Refugio Ministry, Georgia Detention Watch, Project South, Southern Poverty Law Center and Detention Watch Network are demanding an immediate investigation and public release of the findings of the death of Efrain Romero De La Rosa. De La Rosa, 40, originally from Puebla, Mexico, died on July 10th after being in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody at the Stewart Detention Center operated by the notorious private prison company, CoreCivic, in Georgia.

DHS Investigates its Immigration Detention Inspections System and Concludes: ICE Lies

June 29, 2018

Washington, D.C. — The National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC) and Detention Watch Network welcome today’s report from the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General (OIG), holding Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) accountable for its failed detention inspections system. One ICE employee told OIG investigators it is “very, very, very difficult to fail” inspections, and another called the inspections “useless.”

DWN denounces Supreme Court Ruling Upholding Trump’s Muslim Ban

June 26, 2018

“Today’s decision by the Supreme Court was a complete failure to this country’s democracy. We are living in a moment where everyone is challenged to defend and uphold democratic values, and instead the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the Muslim ban flies in the face of these ideals and further emboldens Trump’s anti-immigrant and Islamophobic agenda.

Poor Medical Care, Deaths, in Immigrant Detention

June 20, 2018

Washington, DC – Poor medical treatment contributed to more than half the deaths reported by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during a 16-month period, Human Rights Watch, the American Civil Liberties Union, Detention Watch Network, and National Immigrant Justice Center said in a report released today.

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