5 brave men have reached over 80 days on a hunger strike for freedom.
These men are on the brink of death. We must continue to keep up the pressure, so they aren’t the next deaths in ICE detention.
The good news is there are 2 things you can do right now to help:
1.) We found a pressure point. Please call and email John Hartnett, the Acting ICE Field Office Director in New Orleans (318-992-1594 & John.Hartnett@ice.dhs.gov) and demand these men be released to the care of their family, friends, & doctors in the community.
Here's a script:
2.) One of the men fighting for his life has a bond hearing on Thursday the 30th, just one day before his final asylum hearing. We are hopeful the judge will give him a fair chance where ICE is failing. However, judges in Louisiana have the worst approval rate in the country.
He also has no legal representation for his asylum case, a reality faced by many. THIS is why he is striking. In order to prevent him from having to represent himself before a judge while weakened by day 90 of his hunger strike, the total bond must be paid in full that same day.
There is no upper limit for immigration bonds, but we've documented a range of $1.5K to $250K, w/most totaling $5K to $20K. Our National Bond Fund is currently very low on funds but there is still an overwhelming need.
Any donations made to our bond fund during this hunger strike will be prioritized to pay for the mens’ bonds.
Call. Email. Share. Support. Let’s continue to work together to free these men who are literally putting their bodies on the line for freedom and justice #AbolishDetention#FreeThemAll
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📢Now is the time to end New York’s complicity with immigrant detention! 🧵 thread + 📝 statement from 75+ groups on why we need to pass the #DignityNotDetention Act:
COVID-19 exacerbated the dangers of ICE detention, which has *always* been inhumane. 2020 was the deadliest year in detention since ‘05, with 21 deaths - and over 10K COVID cases. #DignityNotDetention
People in ICE detention in New York state have reported lack of PPE & hygienic materials, and the use of solitary confinement as “quarantine” - total lack of basic public health. #DignityNotDetention
1. #DignityNotDetention prohibits NY State government from entering into immigration detention contracts & prohibits them from receiving any payments related to immigration detention.
2. #DignityNotDetention prohibits New York state from renewing any existing immigration detention contracts.
BREAKING: Freedom for Immigrants and 9 partner orgs submitted a civil rights complaint against the Glades County Detention Center in Florida. Link to the full CRCL in comments. freedomforimmigrants.org/news/shut-down…
With 25 testimonies, it details atrocities happening inside Glades, including: ICE’s failures to follow court orders to release individuals; retaliation for protests and public reporting; use of toxic chemical spray in enclosed spaces; hospitalizations, deaths, and disappearances
The complaint demands ICE terminate its contract with Glades County and immediately release all people detained at the facility.
Our National Detention Hotline received a disturbing call from a Black immigrant in an ICE prison who had experienced physical abuse at the hands of the guards.
Hotline volunteers acted quickly to file a civil rights complaint on his behalf.
In an interview, our Director of Visitation Advocacy Strategies, Sofia Casini, highlighted the connection between the abuse of Black immigrants in ICE prison with abuse at the hands of law enforcement.
Casini stated, "Our nation just went through a year of examining the ways people in authority harm Black people while claiming, 'I was at risk. This person was a threat' — people who are Black and unarmed and at their mercy."
The complaint was submitted on behalf of 3 Cameroonian asylum seekers at Winn Correctional Center who were physically assaulted, choked, beaten and handcuffed in attempts to force their signatures.
One of the men has tested positive for COVID and another has been exposed to COVID. All 3 face life-threatening consequences if deported to Cameroon. #FreeThemAll#BlackLivesMatter
This morning, we @ Freedom for Immigrants and @DetentionWatch Network delivered a letter to @POTUS on behalf of 217 groups demanding President Biden address COVID-19 inside immigration detention by releasing everyone within the first 100 days #FreeThemAll
Our organization has documented at least
199 instances of retaliation at 49 detention facilities since the onset of the pandemic, underscoring the systemic nature of this abuse. You can follow our up-to-date COVID-19 reporting at freedomforimmigrants.org/covid19
Throughout the pandemic, the average length of detention has increased–meaning that people are trapped in prolonged detention in these lethal conditions. As a result, FY 2020 was the deadliest year in ICE detention since 2005, with 21 reported deaths, eight due to
COVID.