Books & Books, Americans for Immigrant Justice, and Immigrant Action Alliance present…

Voices for Freedom: The Case Against Immigration Detention

Friday, September 15th 11am-2pm | Books & Books Coral Gables

On September 15, 2023, Americans for Immigrant Justice, Immigrant Action Alliance, and Books & Books are partnering for Voices for Freedom: The Case Against Immigration Detention as part of Detention Watch Network’s National Day of Action.

All people deserve safety, dignity, and justice—no matter their immigration status or where they were born. Immigrant detention undermines our shared values of fairness, freedom, and human rights. It’s past time to replace the abusive immigration detention system with systems of welcome and care.

Join us to hear direct testimonies from people who have experienced immigration detention in the United States, as well as from their families and community members, and learn how you can fight back against the mass incarceration of our immigrant community.

Understanding ICE Detention

Immigration detention is fundamentally fraught with inhumane conditions, a lack of accountability, and a culture of violence. Just this month, an NPR investigative report titled “Government’s own experts found ‘barbaric’ and ‘negligent’ conditions in ICE detention” brought to the forefront what detained individuals and immigrants’ rights activists have been saying for years.

Even though immigrants in ICE custody are detained on civil—not criminal—grounds, individuals are criminalized and subjected to inhumane conditions. Moreover, individuals in immigration detention are not guaranteed the right to an attorney when fighting deportation. The stakes are extremely high for detained immigrants, since prolonged detention not only impedes their access to equal justice under the law, but also causes lasting damage to the health and financial security of themselves and their families.

Detention is dangerous. From inadequate access to health care and sanitation to overcrowding, sexual violence, and improper use of force, ICE detention has a long and well-documented history of endangering people’s lives and wellbeing. In addition to these grave risks to health and safety, detained immigrants are repeatedly deprived of their liberties, like religious freedoms and due process rights.

Immigration Detention in Florida

In Florida, immigrants are currently detained at 3 facilities: Krome Service Processing Center, Broward Transitional Center, and Baker County Jail/Detention Center. ICE detention in Florida—like detention across the rest of the United States—is plagued by horrifying conditions and violence against immigrants. ICE has closed detention centers in Glades, Monroe, and Wakulla counties amid ongoing reports of abuse, mistreatment, and egregious conditions. We’re asking ICE and the Biden Administration to hear our call to shut down all other ICE detention centers in Florida.

The Demands

– Shut down all detention centers, beginning with those in Florida

-Free everyone detained

#NoDetention #NoDeportation #CommunitiesNotCages #DefundHate #FreeThemAll

About Americans for Immigrant Justice (AI Justice)’s Detention Program

AI Justice’s Detention Program provides free legal services to help detained immigrants obtain release and fight deportation, so that they can be reunited with their loved ones. Many of our detained clients are fathers, mothers, and caregivers, and their detention causes incalculable harm to South Florida families and communities. Many of the people we work with have experienced life-altering trauma before and during detention, for which they cannot receive adequate support while in ICE custody.

In addition to fighting for the release of individuals from ICE custody, AI Justice’s Detention Program also challenges the systemic and pervasive issues that plague the broader practice of immigration detention through public pressure campaigns, policy advocacy and federal litigation.

About Immigrant Action Alliance

The Immigrant Action Alliance is dedicated to abolishing immigration detention while supporting the organizing and power-building initiatives of those who are most impacted.

Immigrant Action Alliance actively works with those in detention camps and their families through in-person community visitation and oversight. We provide funds for phone calls to family and legal providers as well as requested books and comfort items. Our mission is to comfort, witness, and resist with those in detention camps.