Immigration Detention Centers

The shocking allegations against Irwin County detention center in Georgia have brought attention to a very long-standing issue - the conditions of US immigration detention centers. The complaint included medical neglect, lack of precautions regarding the coronavirus and the accusation that a very high number of hysterectomies were performed on Spanish-speaking women at the centre, some of whom didn’t fully understand the procedure they were receiving. This claim should be investigated to uncover the truth. And hopefully it will also direct some much-deserved attention to the overall conditions of the detainee facilities here in the US.

Migrants in detention have long faced issues such as overcrowding, medical mistreatment, unsanitary conditions and poor nutrition resulting in poor health and sometimes even death. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, individuals in the centers are at high risk of contracting the disease due to the lack of space, making social distancing impossible. Under the Trump presidency, many of these facilities have been outsourced to private centers, and it is U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) who is responsible for oversight.

In 2019, the House of Representatives’ Committee on Oversight and Reform initiated an investigation into the use of for-profit contractors to detain tens of thousands of immigrants. Their results, published September 2020, found medical mistreatment, overcrowding, lack of adequately trained personnel and unsanitary conditions. 

Another issue is that many migrant children have recently been detained in hotels by private contractors. Advocates believe this shadow immigration system denies children of special protections and a chance to seek asylum as they are rushed to be deported. 

This history of mistreating those fleeing persecution is inhumane and untolerable.

Sources included below.

DEMAND the elimination of shadow immigration detainment & allow migrant children to be placed with an appropriate sponsor in the U.S. while their asylum cases are heard.

ENCOURAGE your senators or representatives to support an overall improvement of conditions, including medical care, as well as oversight of the facilities.

SUPPORT the investigation into the Irwin Allegations, including the alleged forced hysterectomies and other abuse at the Georgia ICE facility.

SIGN the petition to abolish ICE to protect families and the values that are foundational to America.

SIGN this petition, telling the Department of Homeland Security that they must take immediate action to thoroughly investigate the allegations of unauthorized hysterectomies, as well as investigate those that were in anyway engaged in these activities and hold them accountable to full the extent of the law.

How this works:

  1. Download the free, editable Word doc or copy/paste the letter text to your favorite word processing program

  2. Edit the letter text with today’s date, your name, city & state of residence

  3. Print & address to the appropriate official (below)

  4. Stamp, send & turn up the change

Find your House representative by zip code
Find your Senate represenative by state

 

“The thing is, the vast majority of those being held in detention centers do not need to be there. The government has other, less costly options. It is especially heinous to imprison people who have not been charged with a crime, and who are contesting in civil immigration courts the government’s order to leave the country. It is especially atrocious that children are treated this way. But the disgrace moves into even darker waters with allegations of forced sterilizations of women and other unwanted medical procedures.”

Editorial: Reported surgeries on detained migrant women must be investigated - Los Angeles Times

 

Register to vote & turn up the change every election day

Elections matter and so does your vote. Your vote is your voice as an American citizen and you deserve to be heard. It’s important to hold our elected officials accountable for their decisions and to have a say in important issues that affect your community. Sign up for election reminders in your area.

! Due to COVID-19, there may be changes to when, where and how you vote in your upcoming elections. Check with your state election site for more information.

Previous

Justice for Quawan Charles