Farmville, Virginia - On September 15th, while protesters demanded the closure of ICA-Farmville in front of the White House in Washington, D.C., local town officials signed a two-week contract extension behind closed doors to continue detaining people in the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center until September 30th.
Internal emails show that the Farmville town manager told the company Immigration Centers of America (ICA) on September 13th that they could not sign the extension without approval by the entire town council and that it was too late to add to the agenda that same evening. However, after meeting with ICA officials and communicating with ICE contracting officers, the town manager signed the extension without any public vote on September 15th.
Advocates demand the release of all people currently detained at the facility and that the ICE contract with ICA and Farmville end indefinitely. Groups encourage local Farmville elected officials to consider their options and let the contract expire rather than negotiate another extension between themselves, ICA, and ICE. The town mayor and council should also hold a public meeting to allow for public input and not sign any new agreements in secret. This week, advocates will host virtual actions, including driving phone calls and emails to elected officials, and will circulate a petition for the prison’s closure.
ICA-Farmville is one of two immigration detention facilities in Virginia and is notorious for its brutality, abuse, and neglect. For over a decade, people detained at the facility have been subject to harsh conditions, including use of force, solitary confinement, retaliation by staff, inadequate medical and mental health care, meager and barely edible food, and limited access to counsel and family members. Without regard for the health and safety of the people it detains, ICA-Farmville is also known for severe overcrowding.
On September 13th, over 80 local university students and immigrant rights advocates packed the Town of Farmville council meeting, resulting in an overflow of anti-detention supporters remaining outside to rally. ICA-Farmville was the site of one of the biggest COVID-19 outbreaks in ICE detention centers, leading to the death of James Hill in August 2020, who was honored at the rally.
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Legal Aid Justice Center
LaColectiVA
National Immigration Project
Sanctuary DMV
UndocuVA
VA Student Power Network
Detention Watch Network