THREAD: Last December we said no more to @ICEgov’s retaliation and filed a lawsuit in federal court demanding the agency restore our free & confidential National Immigration Detention Hotline. Today is our first day in court. Tweet your support with the hashtag #RestoreTheHotline 
@ICEgov In 2019, we worked with #OITNB to provide an accurate portrayal of life inside a detention center. They featured our hotline on the show’s 7th season. Two weeks after the show’s premiere, ICE shut down our hotline. #RestoreTheHotline
People in ICE custody do not have access to a free phone call. Private phone companies such as Talton Telecommunications profit off of high phone call rates, which is why people can't afford to connect with their families and attorneys #RestoreTheHotline
Our hotline is used to report abuses & provide individualized support to people in detention. While in operation, the hotline received up to 14,500 calls per month w/a large uptick in calls after the 2016 election #RestoreTheHotline
Investigations like our report on mental health -- which concluded that detention itself functions as a form of torture -- wouldn’t have been possible without the hotline. freedomforimmigrants.org/report-on-ment… #RestoreTheHotline
Without the pro bono platform, it has been extremely expensive to maintain the hotline. We have spent upwards of $15,000 on phone calls and staff expenses since the hotline was shut down #RestoreTheHotline
The bottom line: ICE is trying to punish immigrants in detention & our organization because we are unveiling to the world what it is really like to be in ICE custody #RestoreTheHotline
We are grateful to our pro bono lawyers @HHLLP & to all the #OITNB cast and crew members especially @emilytarver @VicciMartinez @dianeguerrero__ @BethDover1 @MsLauraGomez @alysiareiner @taraherrmann and all of you for supporting us as we fight for our rights! #RestoreTheHotline
