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

In response to Vice President Joe Biden being declared the 46th president of the United States

November 6, 2020

Washington, DC — In response to Vice President Joe Biden being declared the 46th president of the United States, Silky Shah, Executive Director of Detention Watch Network, issued the following statement:

“After four years of an administration that promoted white supremacy, xenophobia, and hate, this country has officially rejected  Donald Trump. Today, we celebrate the repudiation of this disastrous presidency— tomorrow, we awaken to demand a more just society under a new administration of President-Elect Joe Biden. 

Community Organizations Free Hundreds of Immigrants from ICE Detention

October 21, 2020

Beginning Wednesday, October 21st, in an action dubbed “Fall Freedom Day,” immigrant rights organizations in coordination with the National Bail Fund Network and Detention Watch Network, will begin the process of posting $3 million in immigration bonds to free hundreds of individuals held in immigration detention across the country.  The collective action builds off of years of organizing by groups across the country and a similar action in 2019 that freed over 200 people.

ICE Ends Fiscal Year 2020 with its Highest Death Toll in 15 Years

September 30, 2020

Washington, DC — On the last day of Fiscal Year 2020, Silky Shah, Executive Director of Detention Watch Network, issued the following statement in response to the 21 deaths that have occured in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody throughout the year:

“The tragic death toll for FY 2020 is the highest since FY 2005. People are losing their loved ones to an immigration detention system that simply does not need to exist.  

Reported death in detention this week, whistleblower revelations last week — No one is safe in ICE custody

September 21, 2020

Lumpkin, Georgia — Today the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported the death of Cipriano Chavez-Alvarez, 61, who died from COVID-19 early Monday morning after being detained at the Stewart Detention Center (Stewart) in Georgia. Chavez-Alvarez is the third person to die from COVID-19 this year at the facility where there have been over 330 total confirmed COVID-19 cases.

Death Toll in ICE Custody Climbs to 17 with 2 deaths reported this week as COVID-19 Ravages Detention Centers Nationwide

August 7, 2020

Washington, DC — This week two deaths were reported in Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) custody, Kuan Hui Lee, a 51-year-old man who died after being detained at the Krome Detention Center in Miami, and a unidentified 72-year-old man who tested positive for COVID-19 while detained at the Immigration Centers of America (ICA)-operated Farmville Detention Center in Virginia.

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