IRATE-First Friends Statement on Immigration Reform
ICE Announces Reform. Is it enough?
In response to mounting criticism, law suits and a hunger strike in Louisiana, ICE on August 6 announced that it is undertaking reform of detention policies which will address standards, conditions and the use of contract facilities.
While we as advocates applaud any move to improve detention standards and conditions, we are upset by continued efforts of the administration to maintain its policy of mass detention. On August 6 The New York Times reported an interview with John Morton, Assistant Secretary DHS and head of ICE, at which he said detention on a large scale must continue. The same article quotes Janet Napolitano Secretary of DHS as saying that she expected the number of detainees to stay the same or grow slightly. The article goes on to suggest that to assure a “truly civil detention system” new, large regional facilities dedicated to proper care of immigrant detainees may be necessary.
Thus, DHS appears to be set on perpetuating a system of mass detention. This is in the face of an administration which says it is dedicated to comprehensive immigration reform which would legalize the status of most of our 12 million undocumented residents within the next year. The New York Times article claims that the present 32,000 bed network, using cheaper excess capacity at local jails costs $2.4 billion a year, or $75,000 per bed. This is $6,000 for each of the 400,000 immigrants run through the system each year. We hate to think how this cost would increase with a new regional system run by DHS.
IRATE & First Friends believes DHS should adopt a more humane and sensible approach to detention. Detention should be restricted to dangerous criminal aliens and entering immigrants subject to immediate deportation, excluding credible asylum seekers. For immigrants who have been resident, there are a number of reasonable alternatives much more humane and cost effective than incarceration. The vast majority of detainees being held were productive members of the community with family, friends and employment. ICE has the ability to find and control these people and should rely on organizations within the community for assistance.
We ask the administration to reconsider its move to hold large numbers of our residents in detention far from families and support. Such confinement remains a punishment for people who have done no real harm. The use of detention should be limited. How can forceful removal of a selected group of people from their homes ever be benevolent?
Credible asylum seekers should not be detained under any circumstance. These persons fleeing persecution and harm who are legitimately seeking entry should be welcomed and more actively supported in their effort.
Please call The White House at 202-456-1111 and the Department of Homeland Security 202-282-8495 and ask them to reconsider our current policy of mass detention for immigrants in favor of truly humane and just alternatives to incarceration. Ask them to start a dialog with the immigrant support community about decreasing the use of detention.
Statement by IRATE & First Friends
August 11, 2009
The following two sites provide tools for sending e-mail to your legislator regarding immigration reforms well as information on the legislation:
Network's Legislative Action Alert Center
American Immigration Lawyers Legislative & Advocacy Center
For further information on immigration bills and immigration justice please see the following:
National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights