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 — 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
February 25, 2018 by Bethany N. Carson
WHAT: Testimony at Commissioners Court
WHO: Community members who have visited with Laura
WHEN: 9:30 a.m., Tuesday February 20
WHERE: Williamson County Commissioners Court, 710 S Main St, Georgetown TX 78626
AUSTIN — Tomorrow community members will testify to request the intervention of Williamson County Commissioners Court on the case of Laura Monterrosa, an immigrant woman detained at the T. Don Hutto Detention Center. Read more about Community members call on Williamson County Commissioners to intervene for Laura Monterrosa’s immediate release from Hutto Detention Center
AUSTIN — Laura Monterrosa’s mental and physical health continue to decline dangerously after she was driven to attempt suicide inside detention in early January. Monterrosa has spent nearly 9 months in the T. Don Hutto Detention Center where she has spoken out about being sexually assaulted by a guard. Her mental health has continuously deteriorated under intimidation by officials at the detention center and she remains suicidal. Read more about Laura Monterrosa’s mental health dangerously declines in detention
WHAT: Visitors line up to show support for Laura Monterrosa at Hutto Detention Center
WHEN: Wednesday, February 14 at 11 AM
WHERE: Hutto Detention Center, 1001 Welch Street, Taylor, TX 76574 Read more about Victim of Sexual Abuse at Hutto Detention Center Forced Into Solitary Confinement, ICE Demands Laura Recant Testimony
AUSTIN — Laura, an immigrant woman from El Salvador, has been detained at the T. Don Hutto immigration detention center since May 2017. In November Laura came forward as a victim of sexual abuse at the hands of a female CoreCivic (formerly Corrections Corporation of America) detention guard. The abuse was witnessed by other guards who worked in the same facility. Those officials were forced out when they attempted to come forward with information about another incident of sexual abuse in the facility. Read more about Victim of Sexual Abuse at the Hands of an Immigration Guard in Texas Attempts Suicide
November 22, 2017 by Claudia Muñoz
**Español abajo**
Yesterday, two women joined Laura Monterrosa in speaking out about sexual abuse at the Don T. Hutto Detention Center. One of the women, Ana*, said that she filed a report against the guard who harassed and in return, she was moved to Laredo as an act of retaliation. Both, Laura and Ana’s abusers are still employed at Hutto and as a result, Laura is facing increased retaliation and alienation from CoreCivic officials. Laura’s decision to speak out could have a major impact for all women detained at Hutto, but for that to happen she needs your help.
TAKE ACTION: “I demand that Laura is released immediately, she is a victim and should not be punished for speaking out!”
Ayer, dos mujeres se unieron a Laura Monterrosa para hablar sobre el abuso sexual en el Centro de Detención Don T. Hutto. Una de las mujeres, Ana *, dijo que presentó un informe contra el guardia que hostigaba y, a cambio, la trasladaron a Laredo como un acto de represalia. Ambos, los abusadores de Laura y Ana todavía están empleados en Hutto y como resultado, Laura enfrenta una mayor represalia y alienación por parte de los funcionarios de CoreCivic. La decisión de Laura de hablar abiertamente podría tener un gran impacto para todas las mujeres detenidas en Hutto, pero para que eso suceda necesita su ayuda.
ACTÚE: "Exijo que Laura sea liberada inmediatamente, ¡ella es una víctima y no debería ser castigada por hablar!" Read more about We demand the immediate release of Laura Monterrosa, victim of sexual abuse at the Hutto Detention Center
AUSTIN — A letter received by advocates at Grassroots Leadership last week from inside the Hutto immigrant detention center describes sexual assaults against two women at the T. Don Hutto immigrant detention center in Taylor, Texas and names two different guards as perpetrators. Laura Monterrosa describes a pattern of sexual assault at Hutto that she has endured since June. Read more about Courageous woman, Laura Monterrosa, speaks out on sexual assaults at Hutto immigrant detention center