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


Leading Advocates Call for Congress to Reject Border Wall Funding, Increased DHS Budget

December 11, 2018

Washington, DC — As Democratic congressional leadership heads to the White House to negotiate Department of Homeland Security funding with President Trump, leading civil rights, faith, immigrant rights, and advocacy organizations called for a rejection of Trump’s border wall and demand cuts in funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection in the coming fiscal year.

More than 200 Organizations Call on Congressional Leadership to Reject Funding Increases for Immigration Enforcement During Lame Duck, Cut Funding in 2019

November 14, 2018

Washington, DC — More than 200 non-governmental and advocacy organizations sent a letter to congressional leadership today in advance of the December 7th expiration of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) budget, calling for bold leadership in support of immigrant communities already suffering under the Trump administration’s bloated immigration enforcement apparatus.

Trump Previewed Two Devastating Shifts: The Unraveling of the Asylum System and a Massive Ramp Up of Indefinite Immigration Detention in the Form of Tent Cities

November 1, 2018

Washington, DC — In response to Trump’s hate-filled speech today on immigration, Silky Shah, Executive Director of Detention Watch Network issued the following statement:

“Today, Trump furthered his manufactured crisis at the border narrative driven by white nationalism and race based fear-mongering. In his speech, Trump previewed two devastating shifts: the unraveling of the asylum system and a massive ramp up of indefinite immigration detention in the form of tent cities.

Detention Watch Network Launches Nationwide “Communities not Cages” Campaign to Stop the Growth of Immigration Detention

October 24, 2018

Washington, DC — Today, Detention Watch Network launched a new campaign, #CommunitiesNotCages, aimed at halting the massive expansion of the immigration detention system. With nearly 44,000 immigrants being held daily in a network of over 200 detention centers across the country, the #CommunitiesNotCages campaign amplifies the longstanding local organizing of Detention Watch Network members and advocates across the country, while building a nationally coordinated strategy to stop the expansion and ultimately abolish immigration detention in its entirety.  

Lawsuit Seeks to Stop Retaliation Against Immigrants’ Rights Activists

October 23, 2018

Seattle, WA — NWDC Resistance, Detention Watch Network, and the Coalition of Anti-Racist Whites filed a lawsuit on Tuesday, October 23rd asking the federal court in the Western District of Washington to stop Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) unconstitutional policy of retaliating against undocumented immigrants engaged in First Amendment-protected advocacy in support of immigrants’ rights.

Trump’s DHS Operates Under an “Answer to No One” Mentality, Grabbing Money Left and Right to Bankroll the Deadly Immigration Enforcement System

October 3, 2018

Washington, DC — Today it was announced that Mike Pompeo unilaterally approved the transfer of State Department funds to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to increase funding for Trump’s anti-immigrant agenda.

Mary Small, Policy Director of Detention Watch Network, issued the following statement:

Public Outcry Pressured Congress to Reject ICE’s Request for More Money in Latest Budget Deal

September 14, 2018

Washington, DC — Yesterday, Congress reached a budget deal to fund the federal government through December 7, avoiding a shutdown. Noticeably absent from the continuing resolution package was a last minute request by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), known as an ‘anomaly,’ to increase funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to further expand the immigration detention system.

Gabriela Benitez, Senior Organizer of Detention Watch Network issued the following statement:

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