Pressroom

Our latest press releases on important news and events relating to immigration detention in the United States

For media inquiries contact: media@detentionwatchnetwork.org

Homan and Miller Beg U.S. Senate for Billions More in Taxpayer Dollars to Carry Out Mass Cruelty

February 20, 2025

Washington, D.C.- This week, both chambers of Congress are moving forward a budget process to supercharge President Trump’s agenda. Today the Senate will consider a budget resolution that will propel the reconciliation process forward with a bill that focuses on immigration and defense spending. At the same time, the House of Representatives is working toward its resolution that combines immigration, defense and taxes, among other things, into one resolution.

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The Return of Family Detention is Unconscionable

February 11, 2025

Washington, DC — The Trump administration is preparing to publish a Request for Proposal (RFP) for private prison companies to reinstate family detention, according to new reporting.

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Detention Watch Network: The administration’s solicitation of shipping containers to detain people is outrageous and enraging

February 6, 2025

Washington, DC — In response to an alarming report that the Trump administration is considering utilizing shipping-containers to detain people in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody, Setareh Ghandehari, advocacy director at Detention Watch Network, issued the following statement:

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Notorious Alabama detention center to re-open three years after its celebrated closure

February 5, 2025

Washington, DC — This week at the National Sheriffs’ Association’s annual conference, Sheriff Jonathan Horton said the Etowah County Jail (Etowah) in Alabama will soon detain people in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody. With a capacity of over 865 beds, Etowah has not detained people in ICE custody since ending its contract in March 2022 amidst longstanding criticism and well-documented abuse.

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Unprecedented plans to expand immigration detention system will have real life human and economic consequences

February 4, 2025

Washington, DC — The Trump administration is dangerously moving full steam ahead with unprecedented plans to expand Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) immigration detention system.

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Trump’s use of Guantánamo Bay to detain migrants on U.S. soil is unprecedented; Will put lives in danger and tear apart families

February 4, 2025

Washington, DC — The Trump administration has begun detaining migrants at Guantánamo Bay, with two flights occurring this week from Fort Bliss carrying roughly a dozen people. In response to this news, Stacy Suh, Program Director of Detention Watch Network issued the following statement:

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Colorado military base named as a part of Trump’s plan to double immigration detention capacity

February 3, 2025

Denver, CO — Last week it was reported that the Buckley Space Force Base in Colorado will detain people in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody, revealing one of the first locations of Trump’s plan to more than double ICE’s immigration detention capacity.

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Use of Guantánamo Bay to detain people is the latest in Trump’s shocking plan to more than double immigration detention capacity

January 29, 2025

Washington, DC — Today, Trump announced he will sign an executive order to detain 30,000 people at Guantánamo Bay, a military base in Cuba.

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Immigrant Justice Advocates Denounce Trump’s Plan to Double Immigration Detention Capacity

January 28, 2025

Washington, DC — Last week The Washington Post obtained a report that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is seeking to more than double its immigration detention capacity by opening four new 10,000 bed detention facilities, as well as 14 smaller sites with space for 700 to 1,000 people.

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New DHS Directives Will Unleash Lasting Harm and Suffering

January 22, 2025

In response to the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) directives to rescind the Sensitive locations memo, expanding targeting and arrests, and ending humanitarian parole, Setareh Ghandehari, Advocacy Director of Detention Watch Network issued the following statement:

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