As the #COVID19 pandemic continues to devastate the lives and livelihoods of people across the country, this unprecedented crisis continues to devastate incarcerated people and their families the most.
More than 100,000 people behind bars have tested positive for #COVID19 and more than 1,000 incarcerated people have died.
America’s system of mass incarceration makes us all less safe, especially during a pandemic. People impacted by the criminal justice system are fighting to stay #FreeAndSafe.
Prisons and jails do not have adequate health care facilities to treat the serious complications that can accompany #coronavirus. We need massive economic relief for all of those affected, which has to include people impacted by our criminal justice system. #COVID19
These are some of the people impacted the most during the #COVID19 pandemic.
Andre had started his 13-hour drive from Louisiana to North Carolina to pick up his father from federal prison when his mother called to tell him to turn around. His father had succumbed to the virus. “I feel like it could have been avoided,” Andre said. washingtonpost.com/local/public-s…
Before passing, Andre's father was given a compassionate release after serving 16 years. The judge who approved of his release said that “he did not deserve to die behind bars.”
Before Greg was released, Greg was incarcerated at the San Quentin State Prison in California when the #coronavirus outbreak started at the facility. Released early due to #COVID19, Greg describes the ordeal inside ---> sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2020/08/02/cor…
After testing positive for #coronavirus, Greg was released three months early & placed in a hotel to quarantine. Greg described the conditions as “terrible.” “It was people in the middle of the night passing out or calling ‘man down’ when there was a #COVID19 medical emergency.”
On one of the hottest days in Texas, Daisy found out her husband, along with many others in a prison, tested positive for #coronavirus and had no air conditioning in his unit. dallasnews.com/news/investiga…
Men inside the prison say that the “pain and fear of battling #COVID19 is being exacerbated by the inescapable heat.”
Before Daisy's husband got sick, he was denied parole. He told Daisy, “I’m scared. I’m scared I’m not going to come home.”
Before her death, Saferia, a mother of two young boys, filed a petition for compassionate release. Her request was denied. More than a month later, she was examined via satellite by health staff for shortness of breath. miamiherald.com/news/special-r…
On July 19, Saferia tested positive for #COVID19 and was taken to the hospital. Saferia's health continued to deteriorate, and she was eventually placed on a ventilator.
On August 3, Saferia, who had pre-existing medical conditions, died from #coronavirus.
Saferia's mother, Tressa, says she learned about her daughter’s death in the news. “They’ve told me nothing,” she said. “This has been horrible.”
The day before her daughter’s passing, Tressa went to visit her at the hospital after receiving a call that she should come immediately. “I told her to fight as hard as she could,” Tressa said. “She couldn’t talk, but tears were coming from her eyes. She knew I was there.”
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Dreamers, #TPS holders, and farmworkers have never stopped fighting for their futures — and that’s why TODAY, the House will vote on #HR6 and the #FarmWorkforceModernizationAct. Across the country, there is strong bipartisan support for a path to citizenship. #WeAreHome
New national polling from @CenterForwardUS released TODAY finds voters are eager for congressional action and there is broad bipartisan support for protection from deportation and a path to citizenship for Dreamers, #TPS holders and undocumented farmworkers w/ over 80% support.
.@coalition_dream, a group of +100 of the nation’s top businesses & trade assns, endorsed #HR6 and said continued inaction "will cause significant negative economic and social impact on businesses and hundreds of thousands of deserving young people across the country.” #WeAreHome
.@FWDus New York State Director of Criminal Justice Reform @rodnationn issued the following statement today after Governor Cuomo delivered his 2021 State of the State address: fwd.us/news/fwd-us-ur…
"Since December 1, more #COVID19 cases have swept through New York prisons than in the whole first nine months of the pandemic combined – and tragically, 10 more incarcerated people have died." — @rodnationn
"Public health experts and advocates have long predicted that the state’s failure to reduce our incarcerated population would cost lives and hurt families. Nearly ten months into the #COVID19 crisis, far too little has been done to keep incarcerated people safe." — @rodnationn
Happening now: Advocating joining CA Senator @AlexPadilla4CA and Rep. @JoaquinCastrotx, on a press call to call for undocumented immigrants who risk their lives as essential workers to be fast-tracked for citizenship. Follow this thread for updates. #WeAreHome
"We must find permanent protections for the 11 million undocumented immigrants living, working, and contributing to our country. We must keep essential workers safe and recognize their role in keeping us safe through the pandemic." — @AlexPadilla4CA#WeAreHome
"The Biden Administration and Congress must work together to guarantee that undocumented essential workers and their families are included in our nation's economic recovery. These people deliver for us — now, we should deliver for them." — @JoaquinCastrotx#WeAreHome
Despite facing their own uncertain futures, more than 5 million undocumented essential workers are combatting the pandemic & protecting all of our lives.
A path to citizenship is critical to America’s recovery and must be included in #COVID19 recovery efforts. #WeAreHome
Meet Esmeralda, an essential worker raising a three-year-old daughter. "The pathway to citizenship for me & others like me is the same pathway that will lead us all through America's recovery."
We must restore opportunity and dignity for all people living in the U.S. #WeAreHome
Jesus, a #DACA recipient & Houston paramedic, spent 6 days rescuing people from Hurricane Harvey and now, he is on the frontlines of the #COVID19 pandemic.
“Our families are working hard to keep this country moving forward during the pandemic." #WeAreHome#ForOurFamilies
In recent weeks, @FWDus state directors have called on the new Congress & President-elect Biden to create a pathway to citizenship for 11 million undocumented people, including over 5 million of whom are helping combat the #COVID19 pandemic. #WeAreHome#ForOurFamilies
Colorado State Director @MarisitaMo: "It’s time to turn the page on the cruelty of the Trump Administration. It’s time to deliver a permanent solution for undocumented immigrants and fair and humane immigration and refugee policies." #WeAreHome
FWD.us is releasing a new report, "Dismantling #DACA & Terminating #TPS: A Moral and Economic Disaster That Hurts All Americans" which highlights the devastating human economic & political consequences of Pres Trump's anti-immigrant agenda bit.ly/3j93DB7
The new report is the first in a four-part series, which will detail voters’ overwhelming rejection of these policies.
Broad public support for DACA recipients and TPS holders has been galvanized by the courageous advocacy of the people most severely impacted by these policies.
Numerous national polls have made clear that Americans of all backgrounds - including President Trump’s own supporters - are strongly supportive of immigrants and immigration, and even more so now than when he took office.