Dignity Not Detention Campaign
Take Action this Father's Day Weekend, June 14-16, 2013
- Organize a teach-in or educational event about detention in your community
- Organize a public action, vigil or march
- Join an action in your community
- Watch and share a video about detention via e-mail, facebook and twitter
For more information and to add your Father's Day event to our calendar, e-mail Catalina Nieto at cnieto@detentionwatchnetwork.org
Keep Families Together, Stop Detention and Deportation
Mass detention and deportation continue to tear our families and communities apart. Every day in the U.S. 1,500 fathers, mothers, children and friends are taken away and locked-up by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Detention and deportation has an unimaginable impact in all of our communities. This week alone, 8,500 members of our communities will be separated from their families. At this rate, over 400,000 immigrants will be detained and deported this year, having a devastating impact on entire communities and in the nation as a whole. Due to Congress’ and President Obama’s inhumane and unfair detention and deportation policies, children across the U.S. will spend this Father’s Day without their fathers.
But all across the U.S. people are standing up to say: Ya Basta! Communities are organizing to get fathers released from detention and are marching in the streets to demand an immigration bill that doesn't leave anyone behind. As Detention Watch Network, we want to make sure that we continue to be on the side of all of those in detention and stand alongside their families and communities, throughout the immigration reform debate and beyond. This Father’s Day weekend, we are calling on the U.S. Congress and the Obama Administration to Keep Families Together, Stop Detention and Deportation now!
The U.S. government is systematically tearing immigrant families apart. The U.S. Congress enacted mandatory detention laws in 1996 that require the indiscriminate detention of immigrants, funneling fathers, sons, and brothers into more than 250 detention centers and jails across the country. Mandatory detention laws are responsible for approximately 70% of the people in immigrant detention centers today. The U.S. Congress has appropriated $2 billion dollars this year to systematically lock-up and deport immigrants, while mandating that DHS and ICE keep 34,000 detention beds filled every day. This means that this Father’s Day, 34,000 immigrants will be in detention. Many of those are fathers and the sole bread winners in their families. Over 200,000 parents of U.S. citizen children have been deported since 2010. Many children end up in the foster care system due to the detention and deportation of their fathers, mothers and guardians. The U.S. Congress and the Obama Administration are systematically separating fathers from their children and families every day, having a devastating impact on all of our communities.
It doesn’t have to be like this. The immigrant detention system is currently designed to hold immigrants in jail in order to ensure they attend their administrative court proceedings. But the truth is most immigrants want to attend these hearings so they can resolve their status. Detaining and deporting 400,000 immigrants a year is inhumane and should not be regarded as a solution to our broken immigration system. For this reason, Congress and President Obama should immediately:
- Stop detaining immigrants, so that they can stay with their families and communities while they determine their status.
- Repeal mandatory detention. Everyone deserves due process and the right to a hearing with a judge. Until mandatory detention is repealed, the government should use non-punitive alternatives to detention for those that are required to be under ICE custody.
- End the detention bed mandate, which requires ICE to detain 34,000 immigrants daily. The mandate, which is essentially a quota system, drives ICE to target deportable individuals in order to funnel them into detention beds that must be filled.
- Detention and deportation are tightly linked, until immigration reform is enacted, President Obama should put a moratorium on deportations.
Join a Father's Day Action in Your Community
Below is a list of events sponsored by the Fair Immigration Reform Movement and the Detention Watch Network being held nationwide:
Join the Father's Day Facebook event and invite your friends
ARKANSAS
Father's Day Vigil, First United Methodist Church: 723 Center St. Little Rock, AR
Organization: Arkansas United Community Coalition
Friday, June 14th, 4:00 p.m.
Contact: Mireya Reith, 479-871-2168; director@arkansascoalition.org
ARIZONA
Rally and Press Conference
7:00 a.m. start; Maricopa County 4th Avenue Jail: 201 S 4th Ave, Phoenix, AZ
8:15am rally start; U.S. District Court Office, 401 West Washington, Phoenix, AZ
Organizations: Promise Arizona, Black/Brown Coalition, AZ CIR Table, Tonatierra and others
Friday, June 14th
Contact: Tony Navarrette, 602-752-1616, tony@promiseaz.org
CALIFORNIA
March from the Los Angeles Metropolitan Detention Center to the Twin Towers Correctional Facilities
Organizations: CHIRLA, APALC, CARECEN, COFEM, Korean Resource Center, L.A. County Federation of Labor, and SEIU 721, ULTCW & USWW
Thursday, June 13, 2013
11:00 am start; in front of Los Angeles Metropolitan Detention Center: 535 N Alameda St. Los Angeles, CA; end in front of the Twin Towers Correctional Facilities: 450 Bauchet St. Los Angeles, CA
Contact: Xiomara Corpeno, 213-201-4451, xcorpeno@chirla.org
COLORADO
Fathers in Detention, Criminal. A June Vigil at the ICE for-profit GEO Detention Center at 30th & Peoria in Aurora, CO (be at AFSC at 5pm if you need a ride)
Monday, June 3rd, 2013, 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
WASHINGTON, DC
6 Wisconsin children and their parents/guardians will travel to Washington, D.C. to deliver Father's Day cards which explain how they have been affected by the current immigration system
Organization: Voces de la Frontera
Thursday, June 13th
10:00 am start at Ron Johnson’s office in Hart
Contact: Nancy Flores, 608-358-0565
Rally/ press conference with Fathers facing deportation
Organizations: Casa de Maryland, NDLON, LVG, UWD
Thursday, June 12th
10:30 am start; The Capitol
Contact: Susana Flores, 240-491-5745, sflores@casamd.org
FLORIDA
Orlando
Father's Day Action, ICE ERO Office, 9495 Delegates Drive, Orlando, FL
Organization: Florida Immigrant Coalition member groups, SEIU, Mi Familia Vota, AFLCIO, AFSCME
Saturday, June 15th, 10:30 a.m.
Contact: Melissa Maniau 407-340-0796, Soraya Marquez, 407-285-6697
Miami
Father's Day Action at the Broward Transitional Center Powerline Rd, Pompano Beach, FL
Organization: Florida Immigrant Coalition member groups, SEIU, 1 Miami
Saturday, June 15th, 12:00 p.m.
Contact: Kathy Byrd, kathy@floridaimmigrant.org
Lake Worth
Father's Day Action at 7 North Dixie Highway, Lake Worth, FL
Organization: Florida Immigrant Coalition
Saturday, June 15th, 5:00 p.m.
Contact: Isabel Vinent, isabel@floridaimmigrant.org
Immokalee
Sunday, June 16th at 2:30 PM
RCMA, 402 Main Street immokalee, FL
Vigil for our fathers and community demonstration; family members with detained individuals will speak
Organizations: FLIC and The Farmworkers Assocaition
Contact: Grey Torrico-Caceros, grey@floridaimmigrant.org
GEORGIA
Father's Day Event, 414 Oakdale Road NE, Atlanta, GA
Organization: Georgia Detention Watch
Friday, June 14th, 2013, 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Contact: Dianne, atlantaiac@aol.com
IDAHO
Large postcards will be delivered to Senator Crapo and Senator Risch. Families will share their stories and press will be in attendance.
Organization: Idaho CAN
Monday, June 17th
10:00 am start; Offices of Senators Crapo and Risch, 251 E. Front Street, Boise, ID
Contact: Fernando Mejia, 208-830-0313
ILLINOIS
Weekly Vigil at the Bradview Detention Center, 1930 Beach Street, Broadview, IL
Organizations: Chicago New Sanctuary Coalition, Sisters of Mercy, Brothers and Sisters of Immigrants, and other members of the religious community
Friday, June 14th, 2013 at 7:15 a.m.
Contact: Sister JoAnn, JPersch@mercywmw.org
Father's Day Action-Hundreds of children and families will give Senator Kirk a deadline of when he can come out on Immigration Reform with the message “Who will fill our fathers’ shoes?
Organization: Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights
Wednesday, June 12th
6:30 pm start; Senator Kirk’s Office, Federal Plaza 230 S Dearborn St., Chicago, IL 60604
Contact: Rebecca Yemin Shi or Ere Rendon; Rebecca: 312-576-8032, rshi@icirr.org, Ere: erendon@resurrectionproject.org, 815-715-1577
MASSACHUSETTS
Vigil at the Suffolk County Detention Center to call on Congress, ICE and President Obama to stop the detention and deportation
Organization: Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition
2:00pm start: Suffolk County House of Corrections (South Bay), 20 Bradston St., Boston, MA
Contact: Pedro Portillo, 857-294-8055, pportillo@miracoalition.org
MINNESOTA
Monthly Faith Action Vigil At Ramsey County Adult Detention Center, 425 Grove Street, St. Paul, MN
Sunday, June 2nd, 2:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Contact: interfaithcoalitionimmigration@gmail.com
MICHIGAN
A Deportation Moratorium Rally will be held focusing on fathers who have been deported.
Organization: Michigan United
Saturday, June 15th
11:00 start; 16099 Michigan Ave. Dearborn, MI
Contact: Raquel Andersen, 313-595-6492, raquel.garcia.andersen@gmail.com
NEVADA
Las Vegas
Dignity Not Detention Las Vegas Vigil, in front of New York-New York Hotel and Casino Las Vegas, 3790 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas, NV
Organization: Immigration Reform for Nevada
Saturday, June 15th, 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Contact: Carlos Silva, nayaritaslv@gmail.com, 702-595-8256
Reno
Dignity Not Detention Reno Vigil
In Front of the Bruce R. Thompson Federal Building, 400 S Virginia St, Reno, NV 89501
Saturday, June 15th, 2pm-4pm
Contact: Elvira Diaz of Reform Immigration For Nevada at 775-203-5759
Facebook event page
NEW JERSEY
Father's Day Demonstration on Behalf of Deported Fathers outside of the Newark ICE Field Office, 614 Frelinghuysen Ave, Newark, NJ
Organizations: AFSCNJ, Center for Popular Democracy, SEIU, Anakbayan-NJ, NJ Dream Act Coalition, NJ United Students, Wind of the Spirit and New Labor
Thursday, June 13th, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Contact: Chia-Chia Wang, CCWang@afsc.org
NEW YORK
Families for Freedom Father's Day Action Against Detention and Deportation, 780 3rd Ave, (between 48th and 49th) New York, NY
Friday, June 14th, 4:00 p.m.
Contact: esther@familiesforfreedom.org
Rally in front of the Varick St. Detention Center www.meetmyimmigrantdad.tumblr.com while the New Sanctuary Movement posts pictures of empty shoes of separated fathers.
Organization: New York Immigration Coalition
12:00pm start; in front of the Varick Street Detention Center: 201 Varick Street, Manhattan, New York 10014
Contact: Thanu Yakupitiyage, 212-627-2227, ext. 235, tyaku@thenyic.org
OREGON
Father’s Day Vigil at Portland ICE Office, 511 Northwest Broadway,( meet at the park on the corner of Park and Glisen), Portland, OR
Monday, June 17th, 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Contact: reyna@causaoregon.org
TEXAS
Austin
Father's Day Caravan to Close the Polk County Detention Center (Departs from Austin)
Saturday, June 15th, 2013, 8:00 a.m. Press conference as caravan departs
Contact: Matt Gossage, 512-669-9968, matthewgossage@hotmail.com
Houston
June 15th, 2013
Texans United For Families, Grassroots Leadership
Father’s Day Caravan to Close Polk County Detention Center (Departs from Houston)
Dominican Sisters Compound, 6501 Almeda, Houston, TX 77021
10:15 AM Houston Caravan Departure, Saturday, June 15th
Contact: Dave Kalloor, dkagape@gmail.com, 713-444-6260
Livingston
Texans United For Families, Grassroots Leadership
Father's Day rally, protest, and speakers at the Polk County Detention Center to demand its closure. livestream
Saturday, June 15th
1:00 pm start; IAH Polk County Secure Adult Detention Center, 3400 FM 350 South Livingston, TX, 77351
Contact: Matt Gossage, 512-669-9968, matthewgossage@hotmail.com
WASHINGTON STATE
Yakima
One America, SEIU
Community members led by OA and SEIU will gather in front of Rep. Hasting’ office to have a candle vigil and rally
Monday, June 17th
6:00 pm start; Rep. Hasting’s Office, 402 E. Yakima Avenue, Suite 760, Yakima, WA
Contact: Ricardo Rodriguez, 262-716-3431
Pasco
One America, SEIU
Community members led by OA and SEIU will gather in front of Rep. Hasting’ office to have a candle vigil and rally
Monday, June 17th
6:00 pm start; Rep. Hastings Office 2715 St. Andrews Loop, Suite D, Pasco, WA
Contact: Juanita Soto, 509-949-8411
Walla Walla
One America, SEIU
Community members led by OA and SEIU will gather in front of Rep. McMorris Rodgers’ office to have a candle vigil and rally
Saturday, June 15th
8:00 pm start; McMorris Rodgers’ Office, Walla Walla, WA
Contact: Mary Lopez, 509-386-3525
Spokane, WA
One America, SEIU
Community members led by OA and SEIU will gather in front of Rep. Hasting” office to have a candle vigil and rally
Monday, June 17th
6:00 pm start; Katy McMorrison's Office, Spokane, WA
Contact: Lucia Vasquez, 425-319-0242
Wenatchee
One America, Grupo Cafe, SEIU, Pacific Northwest Conference of the United Methodist Church
OneAmerica, Grupo Café, SEIU and the Pacific Northwest Conference of the United Methodist Church will have Educational Fair on immigration reform and a vigil and walk
Friday, June 14th
2:00 pm start; Convention Center, Wenatchee, WA
Contact: Alma Chacon, 509-630-3315
Vancouver
One America, SEIU
Community members led by OA and SEIU will gather in front of Rep. Herrera-Buttler’ office to rally and demand stop
Monday, June 17th
7:30 pm start; Herrera Buttler’s Office 750 Anderson Street, Suite B Vancouver, WA
Contact: Rick Covington, 360-253-2874
Mt. Vernon
One America, SEIU
Community members led by OA and SEIU will gather at this busy intersection to have a candle vigil and rally to demand
8:00 pm start; Riverside and College Way, Mt Vernon, WA
Contact: Sara Bishop, 206-452-8413
WISCONSIN
Milwaukee, WI
Voces de La Frontera
Children and faith leaders will gather for song and prayer in front of Senator Ron Johnson’s office.WNIRR is also partnering with Voces.
Friday, June 14th
2:00pm start; Ron Johnson’s office building: 517 E. Wisconsin Ave. Milwaukee, WI 53221.
Contact: Nancy Flores, (608) 358-0565, statewideorganizer.voces@gmail.com
Watch and Share a video about detention
- Video with a short interview with Pedro Guzman while he was detained at the Stewart Detention Center in Georgia
- Cuéntame's full-length documentary "Immigrants for Sale"
- Punishment and Profits: Immigration Detention, Fault Lines investigates the business of immigrant detention in the US.
More videos coming soon
Other resources about detention
- Op-ed: The Detention and Deportation of a Family Man
- Read the Expose and Close Reports: detentionwatchnetwork.org/ExposeAndClose
- See DWN's Resource Page
Overview of Dignity Not Detention Campaign
In February 2010 the DWN launched its first organizing campaign, “Dignity, Not Detention: Preserving Human Rights and Restoring Justice,” which called for the restoration of fundamental human rights and due process in the U.S. immigration detention and deportation system. In its first year, the campaign supported organizing at local sites in Arizona, Texas and Georgia while engaging members in complementary education and advocacy efforts at the national level.
Today, the campaign has developed into a national organizing strategy focusing on Ending Detention and Deportation. The campaign team is composed of DWN member groups in New York, New Jersey, Arizona, Texas, Georgia, Florida and California.
For more information on the current campaign, our demands and how you can get involved, please contact Catalina Nieto at: cnieto@detentionwatchnetwork.org
