Marysville, California — Today, the Yuba Liberation Coalition and Detention Watch Network celebrate the news that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will cut the contract for the Yuba County Jail (Yuba) in California. This win comes on the heels of last week’s announcement that ICE will terminate the contract at the Berks County Detention Center in Pennsylvania. Yuba marks the fifth detention contract that has been cut under the Biden administration and was the last remaining county jail in California with an ICE detention contract.
In response to Yuba’s ICE detention contract being cut, national and California-based immigrants’ rights advocates are demanding all people be released immediately and the facility be permanently shut down. They have issued the following statements:
Carlos Sauceda, member of the Yuba Liberation Coalition who was detained at the Yuba County Jail between 2017-2019, said: “A part of me can finally be at peace knowing that the place where I spent the worst two years of my life is finally closing. Today is a day of victory for those of us who were detained at Yuba County Jail, for our families and for the advocates who have fought to make this possible.”
Marcela Hernandez, Organizing Director of Detention Watch Network, said: “First and foremost, we applaud all the detained leaders who have demanded their freedom. This win is happening because of their bravery and the years of advocacy work led by local groups like the Yuba Liberation Coalition documenting how unjust immigration detention is. While we celebrate this win, it is completely unacceptable that Biden has doubled the number of people in detention. Biden must act urgently to immediately release people from detention, cut detention contracts and shut down facilities permanently. With two contracts cut in just one week, the administration has proved how swiftly and deliberately this can occur to uphold their promises to immigrant communities. ”
For more information on Yuba, visit the Yuba Liberation Coalition website.
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The Yuba Liberation Coalition, previously the #FreeTheYuba11 Coalition, began in April 2021. The coalition has two goals: release everyone detained at Yuba County Jail and end the contract between Yuba County and ICE. Members of the Yuba Liberation Coalition include, but are not limited to: ACLU of Northern California, California Collaborative for Immigrant Justice, Carlos Sauceda, Faithful Friends, and Pangea Legal Services.
Detention Watch Network (DWN) is a national coalition of organizations and individuals working to expose and challenge the injustices of the United States’ immigration detention and deportation system and advocate for profound change that promotes the rights and dignity of all persons. Founded in 1997 by immigrant rights groups, DWN brings together advocates to unify strategy and build partnerships on a local and national level to end immigration detention. Visit detentionwatchnetwork.org. Follow on Twitter @DetentionWatch.