📺 We're LIVE right now on Facebook discussing the State of Family Detention within the U.S and what YOU can do to help stop family separations. right now.
Tune in here 👇🏾facebook.com/raicestexas/li…
We're joined by our host Nancy Meza, RAICES' National Organizing Director
- Andrea Meza, Director of RAICES’ legal services program at the Karnes family detention
- Laura Molinar, Executive Director of @SSFTexas
- Yvette Borja, Movement Lawyer & producer of @RadioCachimbona
Today we will be hearing from experts on what family detention is, what Friday’s ruling really means for families currently inside family detention centers and what you can do to support our call to #FreeThemAll #SafeAndTogether
We'll be live-tweeting the event here 👇🏾
What is family detention?
"The criminalization of migrants only became a thing after 9/11. It wasn't until the Obama admin that family detention centers were created." -Yvette Borja
Book recommendation: Migrating to Prisons by César Cuauhtémoc García Hernández
"Family detention started as a mass policy in 2014, reacting to the migration of primarily Central American women & children instead of providing a humanitarian response." - Andrea Meza, RAICES Director of Family Detention Services
There are 3 detention centers:
Dilley, Karnes and Berks detention center. Some where converted from male, adult prisons (like Karnes) and others were built specifically to house migrants.
At these so called "residential" centers you can find people from all over the globe.
Basically where were are now is that children adults have tested positive for #COVID19 and on Friday a federal judge ordered that by July 17th all the children need to be out of detention.
However, she made it clear that ICE has the discretion to release the families TOGETHER.
We're afraid ICE might try to deport as many people as they can instead of releasing them so they don't have to explain why they're still in detention.
That's why we need you to recognize family separation is still a very real thing. It happens every day.
"We call for the end to family detention, yes...but this intersects with the call for prison abolition." - Andrea Meza, Director of Family Detention Services at RAICES
#AbolishICE #FreeThemAll
"We cannot wait for a @nytimes article to come out and to see a picture to get upset. The time is NOW. We all have a responsibility to call this out and prevent this from happening. It's about urging everyone to do this." Laura Molinar, Director of @SSFTexas
"Abolishing the prison industrial complex is important if you say you care about migrants. The carceral state has been used to separate black, indigenous, POC. You have to be a prison abolitionist if you truly want to stop deportations." - Yvette Borges @RadioCachimbona
The majority of people that end up in ICE custody come through the criminal justice system.
Our fights are one. #DefundThePolice #AbolisICE
On the topic of sponsors for the children being released:
"Reflect on the history of U.S intervention in separating families of color. We don't need sponsors for children who have their parent by their side. We need these families to be released together." - Yvette Borges
"It's important to start thinking what our society will look like without prisons or detention centers. The future is investing in community solutions." - Laura Molinar, Director of @SSFTexas
"Radical change needs to occur. We can do this by working to dismantle white supremacy and that includes the white savior non-profit industrial complex.
How do we root ourselves in solidarity instead of disenfranchising communities?" - Laura Molinar, Director of @SSFTexas
"Believing in a detention center free society is possible. It's done through community mutual aide. It's about giving agency to people. Not charity."
Find @SSFTexas Commissary Fund here 👇🏾
suenossinfronterastx.org/commissary
"Allies that wan't to help the immigrants rights movement need to show solidarity. Show up and offer what is needed. Do not go in and say, this is what I want to give." - Nancy Meza, RAICES National Organizing Director
What are some action items you can take?
- Keep posted for any July 4th #COVID19-safe actions
- Until we get to a point where we can find sustainable housing solutions rooted in community, donate toward orgs that find folks shelters.
The demands?
We need to urge ICE to #FreeThemAll #SafeAndTogether
ALL of the families in ALL 3 family detention centers need to be released by July 17.
Demand Congress take action 👇🏾
raicestexas.org/2020/06/29/tak…
By July 8th a formalized family separation policy may be created.
That's why we also need to demand that ICE commit to a family unity policy.
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