Community | February 26, 2010 | Comment on this video (2)

Dignity Not Detention National Campaign Launch in San Antonio at ICE Headquarters

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Immigrants in the U.S. are detained in a secretive web of 350 private, federal, state and local jails and prisons, at an annual cost of $1.7 billion to taxpayers. Over 80% of detained immigrants go through the immigration system with no lawyer. Many are denied their fair day in court owing to mandatory and arbitrary detention laws and policies that severely limit judicial discretion. While detained, immigrants face horrific conditions of confinement, including mistreatment by guards, solitary confinement, the denial of medical attention and limited or no access to their families, lawyers and the outside world. Last year ICE announced plans to reform the immigration detention system, yet to date, there is little evidence of change.

Join Detention Watch Network as we launch our National Campaign “Dignity, Not Detention: Preserving Human Rights and Restoring Justice” which calls for an end to detention expansion nationally. Our demands:

• We are demanding that President Obama take immediate action to
prevent human rights abuses in detention centers.

• We are demanding that Congress restore due process to the enforcement of U.S. immigration laws and guarantee that every person has the right to a fair day in court.

• We are demanding that the U.S. government put an end to the arbitrary detention of more than 300,000 people and start using cost-saving alternatives.

The campaign will include local site fights against detention expansion in Arizona, Georgia and Texas that underscore the impact of national detention policy on local communities. For more information, visit http://www.dignitynotdetention.org

On Feb. 25th, coordinated actions in support of the national campaign are taking place in cities across the country in cities including Gainesville (GA), Phoenix, San Antonio, New York, New Jersey and Los Angeles.

In Texas:
Bob Libal, Grassroots Leadership/TUFF
512-971-0487, blibal@grassrootsleadership.org
**Texas Event on Facebook: http://bit.ly/a9tp9M **
Location: San Antonio ICE Headquarters
  1. groups:
    Community,   Politics,   Collective Journalism,   Workers Defense Project
  2. tags:
    Human Rights,  Ice,  San Antonio,  immigration issues,  4 more
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2 comments // Dignity Not Detention National Campaign Launch in San Antonio at ICE Headquarters // Video

  • Rockfanatic1016
  • PaulC1958
    • 0
      PaulC1958  

    • The article appears to conflate immigrants who are legally in the country and illegal aliens who are not. As far as I'm concerned, illegal aliens should only have the right to a determination, at the lowest possible level, of their right to be in the country. Once that has been determined they should be deported forthwith. Their picture, fingerprints and a retinal scan should be taken to identify them if they should ever reenter the US. They should be advised that if they reenter the US and are caught, they will be severely punished. Immigrants should be afforded whatever rights are written into law and nothing else. If they want legal representation they should pay for it themselves.

      With a population of 308+ million people, the US doesn't NEED ANY IMMIGRANTS, OR ILLEGAL ALIENS. Their only value is as cheap labor for corporations/businesses, and they are a complete detriment to working American citizens. Every single immigrant should be expected to obey ALL the laws of our country, and when they violate any law other than minor traffic violations, they should be deported forthwith. Advice to immigrants — work hard, obey the law, and keep your mouth shut until you become a citizen. Immigrants should not be allowed to remain in the country for more than two years after they become eligible to apply for citizenship. If you don't want to become a citizen, go home.

    • 2 years ago
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