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

Approaching World Children's Day, Mobile Ads in Washington DC Demand an End to Child Migrant Detention

November 18, 2021

Washington, DC — Today and tomorrow, leading into World Children's Day (November 20), mobile ads calling attention to the detention of migrant children are being displayed throughout prominent streets of downtown DC. Although World Children’s Day should be a day of celebration for children all around the world, advocates highlight the contradiction of thousands of migrant children who remain detained in  Health and Human Services (HHS)  “emergency intake” and “influx” child detention sites.

Immigrant Rights Activists Hold Day of the Dead Events Across the Country to Honor Lives Taken by Immigration Detention While Urgently Demanding the Biden Administration Take Action

November 1, 2021

Washington, DC — In honor of the Latin American holiday, Day of the Dead, 10 events are happening across the country  to remember the lives taken by the immigration enforcement system and demand urgent action in coordination with Detention Watch Network and the We Are Home Campaign. Since Biden took office, five people have died in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody. This follows ICE’s highest death toll in 15 years with 21 deaths occurring in FY 2020. 

220 Immigrant and Human Rights Groups call on the Biden administration to immediately halt immigration detention expansion and terminate contracts

October 8, 2021

Washington, DC — Today Detention Watch Network, Shut Down Berks Coalition, JUNTOS, National Immigrant Justice Center, the American Civil Liberties Union, Aldea - the People’s Justice Center, Pennsylvania Immigration Resource Center (PIRC), the Nationalities Service Center (NSC), and CASA delivered a letter to President Biden and Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on behalf of 220 immigrant and human rights groups

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.

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