As Caravan of Asylum Seekers Approaches the US, Immigrant Rights Groups Condemn Session’s Threat to Keep Immigrants Indefinitely Detained
October 29, 2018
Our latest press releases on important news and events relating to immigration detention in the United States
For media inquiries contact: media@detentionwatchnetwork.org
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:
Rally and Press Conference to Stop the Transfer of Immigrants in ICE Custody to Federal Prisons
September 14, 2018
Stockton, California — Today, immigrant rights activists, community leaders and people who have been directly affected by the immigrant detention system gathered for a rally and press conference to call attention to the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) agreement with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to jail 1,600 immigrants.
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:
Advocates Demand Congress Stop Detention Funding
September 10, 2018
Washington, DC — Immigrants, faith leaders and advocates from the #DefundHate coalition will gather in the offices of Senator Schumer and Senator Shelby to deliver over 60,000 signatures collected by CREDO, AFSC, and members of the coalition calling for Congress to stop funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). With chants, prayers and stories from those who have been harmed by ICE, participants will call on the Senate to take action. The event will take place on Tuesday, September 11 at 11:00 am in the Senators’ offices.
175 Immigrant and Human Rights organizations tell Congress to Reject ICE’s Second Request in Six Months to Increase Immigration Detention Budget
September 5, 2018
One-hundred and seventy five immigrant and civil rights organizations sent a letter today to congressional appropriators urging them to reject the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) latest request for new funding to further expand the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention system.
#DefundHate Coalition Slams House Committee For Voting to Tear More Families Apart
July 26, 2018
Washington, DC — Yesterday, the House Appropriations Committee voted on the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)’s Fiscal Year 2019 Bill.
#DefundHate Coalition Recommends Voting NO on DHS Appropriations Bill
July 19, 2018
Washington, DC — The #DefundHate Coalition recommends that the House Appropriations Committee vote NO next week on the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) FY19 appropriations bill that was introduced on Thursday by the Subcommittee on Homeland Security of the House Appropriations Committee.
This measure includes increased funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to target, incarcerate, and tear families apart, and $5 billion to build 200 miles of new and harmful border walls.