New York Trend NYC: September 15-21, 2016

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SEPTEMBER 15, 2016 - SEPTEMBER 21, 2016

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VOLUME 27 ISSUE 20

Since 1989

CITY COUNCIL CALLS FOR END TO IMMIGRATION DETENTION CENTERS In a letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson and ICE’s Director, Sarah R. Saldaña, New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito today urged the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to follow the lead of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), and end the use of privately-run immigration detention centers which, time and again, have proven themselves unfit or unwilling to meet proper standards of care.

Further, the abuses reported by immigrant detainees of all ages, can best be characterized as a failure to meet basic human needs rather than a denial of additional protections. The countless reports of inadequate medical and mentalhealth care highlight the blatant disregard that these private contractors have for the well-being of those detained at their facilities. The DHS should not allow these private companies to continue failing to meet their contractual obligation to provide adequate care, much less to profit from it.

As Speaker Mark-Viverito said in the letter: “Unlike governmentrun prisons and detention centers, privately run institutions are not subject to the same reporting and transparency requirements. As a result, the DHS and private contractors have deprived civil immigration detainees of basic physical and legal rights without consequence. Given the number of class-action lawsuits recently filed by immigrants, the DHS can no longer ignore the systemic violation of the human rights of immigrants in administrative detention, many of whom are refugees and asylum seekers. ….I therefore call upon the DHS and ICE to put an end to the use of private immigration detention facilities, and re-evaluate existing detention guidelines and oversight mechanisms to ensure that immigrants in civil immigration detention are not deprived of their basic human rights or their ability to pursue immigration relief available under the laws and regulations of the United States.”

Furthermore, private detention centers often create significant obstacles for detainees seeking counsel and access to justice. It is well-documented that with legal counsel, detainees are far more likely to obtain some form of relief. That is why my colleagues at the City Council and I have provided significant funding for immigration legal services and continue to call on Congress to establish a right to counsel for immigrants facing deportation.

I write to urge the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Immigration and Customs

Enforcement (ICE) to follow the lead of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), and end the use of privatelyrun immigration detention centers which, time and again, have proven themselves unfit or unwilling to meet proper standards of care. Prompted by findings that privately-run prisons provide substandard services in comparison to federally run prisons, the DOJ has affirmatively taken steps to significantly reduce, and ultimately end, its use of private facilities to house inmates.

“…private detention centers often create significant obstacles for detainees seeking counsel and access to justice.” The private companies that currently run the majority of private prisons, are also contracted to run the majority of private immigration detention centers. Despite being centers for administrative civil detention, there exist far too many

parallels with the criminal prison system; specifically their structure, inhumane conditions and widespread misconduct. Unlike government-run prisons and detention centers, privately run institutions are not subject to the same reporting and transparency requirements. As a result, the DHS and private contractors have deprived civil immigration detainees of basic physical and legal rights without consequence. Given the number of class-action lawsuits recently filed by immigrants, the DHS can no longer ignore the systemic violation of the human rights of immigrants in administrative detention, many of whom are refugees and asylum seekers. While I am encouraged by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals’ recent confirmation that children apprehended along with a parent are entitled to the protections outlined in the Flores settlement, there are continued reports of settlement violations.

These are only a few examples of the well documented and wide-spread abuses occurring as a result of DHS and ICE’s current detention and deportation policies. I therefore call upon the DHS and ICE to put an end to the use of private immigration detention facilities, and re-evaluate existing detention guidelines and oversight mechanisms to ensure that immigrants in civil immigration detention are not deprived of their basic human rights or their ability to pursue immigration relief available under the laws and regulations of the United States.

INSIDE T HIS IS SUE :

Education pg.5 PAGE 3 HEALTH EQUITY

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September 15, 2016- September 21, 2016

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