On any given day, at least 34,000 people are detained in immigrant detention centers in the U.S. to meet an arbitrary lock-up quota dictated by Congress. Stopping the quota would be a giant step forward in ending our reliance on detention. Grassroots Leadership researches and exposes the role of for-profit prisons and their lobbyists in enacting the quota contributes to the growing national movement to stop immigrant detention.
AUSTIN — Late Wednesday night, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) violated a judge’s order when they attempted to deport Grandma Rosy,* who was separated from her granddaughter in May at the border under the zero tolerance policy. She has been detained for three months, separated from her 12-year-old granddaughter Cindy,* who is currently living in Texas with her grandmother’s sister who she was released to from ORR custody. Read more about ICE Pursues Deportation of Zero Tolerance Grandmother Despite Judge Sabraw’s Order to Reunify
June 29, 2018 by Bethany N. Carson
A total of 20 letters were received by Grassroots Leadership organizers on Friday, illuminating the anguish of mothers who remain separated from the children they haven’t seen since asking for asylum at the southern border. Read more about Letters from inside: As officials threaten them with transfers, 16 women detained in Hutto speak out
WHAT: Testimony to County Commissioners and March
WHO: Faith leaders, community members, and advocates
WHEN: Tuesday, June 26 at 9:30 a.m. - 11 a.m.
WHERE: Williamson County Commissioners Court, 710 S Main St, Georgetown, TX 78626 Read more about Faith leaders, community to hold “Jericho March” to call on Williamson County Commissioners to shut down T. Don Hutto
AUSTIN — Today, the President signed an executive order mandating that families be jailed in detention camps operated on behalf of the Department of Homeland Security while continuing the “zero-tolerance” policy of criminally prosecuting all immigrants apprehended at the border. Read more about Indefinitely Jailing Families Is Not a Solution
"La organización pro inmigrante Grassroots Leadership está invitando a las personas a que se unan como voluntarios para su programa de visitas en el Centro Residencial T. Don Hutto, de Taylor.
El programa de visitas a Hutto comenzó en el 2010 y, según Sofía Casini, quien es la cordinadora de programas migratorios para Grassroots Leadership, entrenan a alrededor de 200 voluntarios al año para que vayan a visitar a las mujeres detenidas." Read more about Tú puedes brindarle apoyo a las detenidas de este centro de detención
For time and location information, please RSVP with Cristina Parker, cparker@grassrootsleadership.org.
AUSTIN — Monday Laura Monterrosa will speak to the public following her release from the T. Don Hutto detention center Friday evening, after being detained for approximately 10 months. Read more about Laura Monterrosa speaks out after her release
WHEN: Thursday 11 a.m.
WHERE: 6929 Airport Blvd, Austin, TX 78752
WHAT: Community members inside Beto O’Rourke office, others rally outside Read more about BREAKING: Laura Monterrosa to be deported unless DHS grants release
AUSTIN — Today a federal judge in Austin heard the habeas corpus petition and temporary restraining order in the case of Laura Monterrosa, who has been speaking out about her sexual assault by a guard at the T. Don Hutto detention center. ICE and CoreCivic respondents were forced to provide Ms. Monterrosa with outside mental health treatment after expert witnesses who had provided psychological and psychiatric assessments for Ms. Read more about ICE Admits Failing to Provide Adequate Medical Care to Laura Monterrosa in Federal Court
WHAT: Press conference and action in support of Laura Monterrosa
WHEN: Tuesday, March 13 at 9 a.m.
WHERE: 441 Federal Courthouse Plaza, Austin, TX 78701 Read more about T. Don Hutto on Trial: Federal Judge to Hear Abuses and Retaliation Laura Monterrosa has Faced in Detention
"Two for-profit prison companies—the GEO Group and CoreCivic (formerly the Corrections Corporation of America) hold 72 percent of privately contracted immigration detention beds, according to a 2015 report from Grassroots Leadership, a non-profit whose mission is to shut down for-profit prison facilities. Both have seen their profits spike under Donald Trump’s presidency. And they could continue to benefit even more: Trump’s 2018 budget plan requested an increase in the number of available immigrant detention beds to over 48,000." Read more about The Supreme Court's Ruling on Immigrant Detention Is a Huge Win for Private Prisons