Thread by @RAICESTEXAS

🚨HEADS UP: We have sent a letter of complaint to @ICEgov demanding access to legal counsel for immigrants at Karnes Detention Facility in TX.

Since 2014 we’ve been giving free legal counsel to anyone who wants it at the detention center.

Over the last few years @ICEgov created and implemented policies which facilitated access to free legal services for thousands of children and adults.

These policies worked. But now they are drastically cutting our access to the thousands in need.

For over a month now @ICEgov in cahoots with the @GEOGroup have put obstacles in our way.

From refusing to allow us to meet more than 1 person at a time to 🛑 us from using private rooms to meet our clients.

They’re discriminating against those who cannot afford private attys.

Last week @ICEgov told one of our clients to sign deportation papers. The client (withholding her name for protection) was told by an ICE agent:

“You are in my country. This is going to affect your case if you don’t sign.”

She is a strong woman.
She didn’t believe their lies.

It is incredibly shocking to see that the gov’t is denying access to council to Karnes’ detainees because a for-profit company is telling them to do so.

This is why immigrant detention needs to 🛑 Allowing these companies to profit out of detaining our communities needs to STOP.

As an org we’re demanding that @ICEgov reinstate our access to individuals locked up🔒in Karnes. That means:

1. We want to be allowed to meet with more than 1 person at a time. We used to be able to meet in groups. We’re only allowed 1 group per day now...cont.

2. We want detained individuals to be able to walk into visitation to sign up and request to meet with us same-day.

There used to be a list they could sign but @ICEgov and @GEOGroup no longer allow that.

3. We want the pro bono room back and for it to be free from @ICEgov and/or Geo staff.

And lastly, 4:
We want private group presentation meetings (per the standards @ICEgov claims are in use).

The detention and mistreatment of immigrants needs to end. We’ll fight for that. Always.

But until this happens we need to provide legal council to migrants and @ICEgov needs to adhere to the standards they THEMSELVES published.

📢We need your help.

☎️CALL 210-283-4723 Deborah Achim, Deputy Field Office Director of Karnes and demand she restore legal access for individuals detained at the facility.