Los Angeles, CA – February 11, 2020 – Today, Freedom for Immigrants (“FFI”) and its pro bono counsel Hueston Hennigan LLP announced that the United States District Court for the Central District of California granted its application for a preliminary injunction and ordered U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) to restore FFI’s National Immigration Detention Hotline (the “Hotline”). The Hotline allows persons in immigration detention to report abuse, find resources, and bridge the divide between detained persons and their family and loved ones.

Washington, DC — The Defund Hate Coalition issued the following statement in response to President Trump’s budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2021:

“For his final budget proposal before the election, the Trump administration is clear on its core motivations: a wholesale, hate-fueled attack on immigrants. In the four years Trump has put forth his annual budget proposal, he has requested a cumulative total of $36.4 billion for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and $72.1 billion for Customs and Border Protection (CBP). These totals are on top of the billions of dollars in additional funding he’s called for over the years through supplemental and transfer requests and the billions he stole last year with his ‘national emergency’ declaration.

Boston, MA – Freedom for Immigrants co-founders Christina Mansfield and Christina Fialho will be honored with the John F. Kennedy New Frontier Award for their tireless efforts advocating for immigrants rights and protections. Washington State Lieutenant Governor Cyrus Habib also will receive the New Frontier Award for his work on progressive issues for his constituents, including sponsoring bills that would guarantee paid sick leave for almost all workers and the Washington Voting Rights Act, which would prevent racially polarized voting systems. The awards will be presented by Jack Schlossberg, President Kennedy’s grandson, during a ceremony on February 7 at 5:00pm at the Institute of Politics at Harvard Kennedy School.

The Etowah Visitation Project coordinators volunteer visits to people detained in the Etowah Detention Center in Alabama. Visitation can be a lifeline for people inside detention, particularly those detained at Etowah who are kept indoors 24/7 with no access to outdoor recreation.

Los Angeles, CA - Today, Freedom for Immigrants in collaboration with 18 other leading grassroots organizations throughout California is launching the Statewide Days of Visitation and Action.  

 Between January 17th and 20th, we will be coordinating visits to the Adelanto Detention Facility and the Otay Detention Facility, two privately-run immigrant prisons in California.  We also will be holding community screenings of the recently-released film, Just Mercy, and panel discussions to raise awareness of the impact of mass incarceration and deportation on our communities.

Media Contacts: Rebekah Entralgo rentralgo@freedomforimmigrants.org

JENA, LOUISIANA -- Five South Asian men have reached the 75th day of a hunger strike in the  GEO Group-operated LaSalle Detention Facility in Jena, Louisiana where they have been subjected to the tortuous procedure of forced-hydration and force-feeding. According to medical professionals, 75 days without adequate nutrition is when vital organs begin to fail.

On December 19, the Senate voted to approve a government spending package for FY2020. In response, Freedom for Immigrants and Detention Watch Network released the following statement: 

“The final spending package includes an increase in the gross budget authorities for both Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The bill also did not place any limitations on the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) ability to transfer funds between accounts, meaning that the agency can continue to raid accounts to finance expansion of immigration detention beyond congressionally appropriated levels. 

GADSDEN, ALABAMA – In response to a letter addressed to Etowah County Sheriff Jonathon Horton signed by 62 community organizations and a cease and desist letter issued by Freedom for Immigrants on behalf of the Etowah Visitation Project, visitation has resumed at the Etowah Detention Center.