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

First Death in Immigration Detention Under the Trump Administration as the White House Looks to Expand a System Riddled with Abuse

March 17, 2017

Washington, DC — Immigrant rights organizations, Congreso de Jornaleros, Detention Watch Network and Southern Poverty Law Center demand an immediate investigation into the death of Roger Rayson. Rayson, 47, died earlier this week while in the custody of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after being detained at LaSalle Detention Center in Louisiana.

Congress Must Send a Clear Message: Taxpayer Dollars Will Not be Used to Support an Anti-immigrant Agenda

March 16, 2017

Washington, DC – Today, the White House asked Congress to cover the costs of President Trump’s immigration executive orders. In addition to billions already allocated for immigration enforcement, taxpayers would be footing the bill for an extra $3 billion to fund the president’s border wall and deportation force, including more border agents and a request for 45,700 immigration detention beds in total.

Private Prison Corporations Thrown Out of Court 

February 8, 2017

New York – Today, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed an appeal by private prison corporations seeking to block the release of government documents about their immigration detention practices. A federal judge ruled in July, in a case brought by the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) and the Detention Watch Network (DWN), that under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) the government must release details of its contracts with private prison corporations.

Detention Watch Network Condemns Trump’s Wholesale Attack on Immigrants

January 25, 2017

Washington, DC — In response to Trump’s executive orders on immigration Silky Shah, co-director of Detention Watch Network said:

“As if it wasn’t already clear from Cabinet nominations like Jeff Sessions for Attorney General, Trump’s executive orders on immigration demonstrate what the next four years will look like — a hate-fueled attack on immigrants and people of color. With today’s executive orders, Trump not only threatens our universal values of human dignity and justice, but actively promotes xenophobia, discrimination, repression, and fear.

Immigrant Activists Will Hold Senators Accountable for Anti-immigrant Votes in Today’s Hearings

January 10, 2017

Washington, DC — Confirmation hearings for the new administration begin today in rapid succession starting with Senator Jeff Sessions as Attorney General and General John F. Kelly as Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. In response to today’s hearings, Silky Shah, co-director of Detention Watch Network said:

Advocates Demand Answers from ICE on Alarming Number of Deaths in Detention Centers During 2016

December 16, 2016

Washington, DC — Immigrant rights organizations, Detention Watch Network (DWN), Puente Arizona and Grassroots Leadership demand an immediate investigation before the end of the Obama Administration into the 13 deaths that occurred in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody in 2016. Advocates are demanding that ICE be held accountable, as two more lives were lost in immigration detention just last month.

New Report: Private Prisons Fail to Ensure Safety and Dignity of Immigrants Held in their Facilities

December 1, 2016

Washington, DC — A new report, A Toxic Relationship: Private Prisons and U.S. Immigration Detention, released today by Detention Watch Network (DWN) builds on the overwhelming evidence that the privatization of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention exacerbates due process violations, egregious conditions and transparency concerns that are endemic to the immigration detention system.

Private Prison Corporations Cannot Stop Release of Government Documents, Attorneys Argue

November 29, 2016

New York, NY – Today, the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) and Detention Watch Network (DWN) urged a federal court to dismiss an appeal by private prison corporations seeking to block the release of government documents about their immigration detention practices. A federal judge ruled in July that under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), the government must release details of its contracts with private prison corporations.

DWN Statement on Presidential Election

November 9, 2016

“Throughout his campaign, President-elect Donald Trump has made it clear where he stands with immigrant communities. His racist and incendiary remarks have inflamed anti-immigrant sentiments across the country and given cover to far right and white supremacist agendas of exclusion and demonization.

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