Immigrant detention separates families. Together, we can end the detention quota. AFSC
People come to the U.S. for all sorts of reasons: Some are searching for the opportunity to build a better life, while others are seeking basic safety and human rights for themselves and their families. Yet, everyday, people who are new here and others who have lived here for most of their lives are caught in the crosshairs of an unfair and unjust immigrant detention system. In fact, federal policy mandates that Immigration and Customs Enforcement make 34,000 spaces available every day in immigration prisons. Luckily this is something we can change together. Never heard of immigrant detention? Not sure what to do about it? Read on.
Why you should care about immigrant detention - even though it doesn't make the news
Immigrant detention is a well-kept secret: We have yet to see it come up in public opinion polls. But it impacts real people everyday, people like Emmanuel, a pro-democracy activist from Togo who came to the U.S. after suffering torture in his home country. Instead of finding safety and help in the U.S., Emmanuel was incarcerated for over two years while his case made its way through the asylum system.
Emmanuel is just one of the half a million people caught in this inhumane system every year. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement is required by law to maintain 34,000 spaces in federal detention facilities around the U.S. to incarcerate people like Emmanuel. Who else has been targeted by this system? Grandfathers like Martin, brothers like Jorge, and husbands like Moussa - among millions of others.
Together we can end the immigrant detention quota
Interested in helping people like Emmanuel, Martin, Jorge and Moussa find the opportunity, safety, and human rights that we all deserve? Then join us in calling on Congress to end the detention quota today - and in telling your friends about this important issue. This situation is far from hopeless. Public policy created this problem, but we can solve it.