House of Representatives Report on DHS Appropriations, 2010

A House of Representatives report on the Department of Homeland Security's 2010 appropriations dedicates a section to Child and Family Detention, Alternatives to Detention, and unaccompanied children in ICE custody in its review of Immigration and Customs Enforcement activities. On family detention, in particular, the Appropriations Committee

believes that detention is not generally appropriate for families and is concerned that the Department does not routinely make Alternatives to Detention available to families it takes into custody. In addition, while the Committee is pleased that ICE developed and implemented detention standards for families held in its custody, it remains concerned that ICE family detention standards are based on adult prison standards. The Committee directs the Department to prioritize the use of Alternatives to Detention program for families who do not need to be held in immigration detention. The Committee further directs the Office of Professional Responsibility to conduct a review of families detained in ICE custody since 2007 and determine whether ICE complied with its own internal guidance for when to hold families in custody and when to release them to Alternatives to Detention programs. The Committee directs ICE to report on the results of this review no later than the submission of the 2011 budget.

In addition, the Committee has heard reports of ICE prosecutors inappropriately using personal information about children when presenting cases in immigration court, such as medical records and psychological reviews. The Committee directs ICE to respect the privacy and confidentiality of detained children's case information, including privileged medical, psychological and social worker reports, and only to request access to those files when relevant to the case.

Congress appears to be hearing us on the key issues--prison-like conditions, lack of accountability, inadequate use of alternatives, and long stays in detention. As we near the August expiration of the Hutto Settlement, and the federal district court oversight that goes along with it, these issues are critical to families detained at Hutto.

While this report does not go as far as ending family detention (nor could it), it is encouraging that Congress find detainings families with children increasingly distasteful. It's time to keep the pressure on. Immigration reform is on the horizon, and reforming the detention system must be a key part of this conversation!

Thanks to Adrienne for bring this to our attention!

Press Coverage of June 20 World Refugee Day Vigil

Thanks to all who turned out last Saturday! Here's a rundown of the press coverage...

The Williamson County Sun carried an article on the protest (see above).

Protestors ask President to shut down T. Don Hutto Russell Wilde, News 8 Austin.

The demonstraters called for the president to shut down the detention center, where refugees, including children, are held. "Immigration has a lot of challenges to it. I think we all realize there are situations we need to confront, but that these people, particularly the children, shouldn't be bearing the brunt of that," [St. Andrew's Presbyterian church minister Jim] Rigby said.

Immigration officials said the center allows them to enforce the law while allowing families to stay together.

Protesters said the people being held in the center are refugees and should not be held in a former prison.

"A message to our president to free the children. It's a message to our president to do it now," Johnson-Castro said. "That's a change we can believe in. It's a change we need."

Texans March Against Hutto Family Detention Center on World Refugee Day, MediaHacker via YouTube.

Three videos, Social Justice TV via YouTube. **Newly added** 2 videos on the vigil, by CECLEF. AND 2 videos from closehuttodown.

Houston Indymedia has a video and and photo coverage, which you can also read at the Houston Students for a Democratic Society blog.

Thank y'all, and keep sending things my way!

Diana Claitor: "We need to show the world we don't approve"

Diana Claitor of the Texas Jail Project, posting at The Rag Blog, calls on Austinites "to take every chance to show the feds and the world that we don’t approve, that we are not okay with refugee mamas and their babies and kids being incarcerated in a prison camp while their cases are decided."

She continues: "...one basic truth applies: it’s just not right. More humane and less-costly alternatives exist that keep families together and out of prison-like detention centers. A study by the Vera Institute found that more than 90% of immigrants on a supervised release program attended their immigration hearings. The average cost of a supervision program is $12 a day compared to reportedly over $200 a day to detain a person at Hutto."

Now's the time, Texans! Join us next week and show the world the US is better than family detention. Details above...

Austin City Council World Refugee Day Resolution

Austinites! Contact your councilperson and urge them to support refugees, migrants, and the rights of children in Austin and around the world. Special thanks to Free the Children for their advocacy!

Free the Children
Proposed Draft World Refugee Day Proclamation
Revised June 8, 2009

Be it known that,

Whereas

The City of Austin recognizes that the inherent dignity and the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world,

Whereas

On World Refugee Day, we turn our attention to the millions of refugees who live without material, social and legal protection.

Whereas

The Convention on the Rights of the Child is an internationally recognized agreement between nations that establishes a comprehensive set of goals for individual nations to achieve on behalf of their children.

Whereas

We are willing to join in harmony with voices worldwide to claim more reasonable and humane immigration policies.


The City of Austin, as a leader in the global community of urban centers, does

Proclaim

1. June 20 the day to recognize and celebrate World Refugee Day;

2. Support for the ratification of the United Nations Covenant on the Rights of the Child; and

3. Compassion for a just and viable alternatives to institutional detention of children and families within these United States and elsewhere, while such families await administrative resolution of their immigrant status.

HispanicNashville.com covers CCA reactions to Hutto Criticism

Hispanic Nashville interviews Louise Grant, public relations officer for CCA360.com, CCA's new website aimed at improving CCA's public image. Should we take it as a compliment that CCA has an image problem?

The Hispanic Nashville Notebook asked CCA how the company views the detention of children and families, or allegations of overincarceration - and whether the board or the company wrestles with the moral issues raised by opponents, or whether there is a limit to the kind of policies the company is willing to help implement. Here is the response of CCA VP of Marketing and Communications Louise Grant:

Our government customers don't ask us our opinions on the moral implications. ... They make public policy decisions. ... Once those decisions have been made, they decide "Is the public government sector going to manage these individuals, or is the private sector?" ... We are not in the business of making moral decisions on U.S. public policy. ... Where we can have an influence is in our own facilities.

When describing the moment when ICE approached CCA to turn Hutto into a family facility, Grant said that CCA initially turned the government down:

Grant: Specifically in regard to Hutto, I can say our customer - Immigration and Customs Enforcement, again, they have been our customer for 25 years, they trust us - they came to us and asked us to operate a family detention center. We said no initially.

Hispanic Nashville Notebook: Why was that?

Grant: We said we have not had that expertise before - you know, we've managed adults. We've had a few juvenile facilities, but we have not managed a family detention center. Obviously, there was only one at the time in the country, in Pennsylvania, and we said no. And ICE came back to us and said, we've made the public policy decision that we are going to do this, and we want to partner who we trust; you've been a good partner for 25 years; we know you have high standards, you have integrity and strong ethics, and we would like you to do this. And we knew it was going to be an evolutionary process, because it was new for ICE and it was new for us, but we said OK we will do this. And we knew that there would be scrutiny. There was obviously the concern about safety and security to say, how can we ensure the absolute safest, most humane environment for these individuals. And our staff, who already goes through very rigorous training, went through a great deal more specialized training, and all of our counselors. And it has been an evolutionary process.

I've been to that facility several times. The warden Evelyn Hernandez is a wonderful woman from Puerto Rico who has the greatest sensitivity, and her staff has the greatest sensitivity to the mothers and the children and the fathers. We do believe that keeping those children with their families is something we're proud of. Again, we've worked extremely hard not to get involved in the public policy decisions...

...and check out the great timeline at the end of the full article.

LULAC Returns CCA Sponsorship

Elaine Wolf of the San Antonio Current blogs about LULAC's relationship with Corrections Corporation of America, the private prison corporation that runs TDH: (read the full piece)

As a growing coalition of activists prepares for what they hope will be the most high-profile protest yet at the immigrant-family detention center in Taylor, Texas, fellow activists are challenging LULAC over sponsorship monies received from the private company that runs the prison. ...

LULAC National Treasurer Jaime Martinez, a longtime San Antonio labor activist, says that when he was made aware of the sponsorship, he and President Rosa Rosales immediately initiated the return of the $10,000 that year.

"We don't want any sponsorships from CCA," said Martinez, calling the money "tainted."

LULAC National Executive Director Brent Wilkes confirms Martinez's account, and says he believes the CCA money was returned in 2007, the last year that LULAC accepted sponsorship money from CCA for its conference. Previous years' funds were not returned, he said, in part because they were probably already spent.

Prior to the Hutto conflict, says Wilkes, LULAC found many things to like about CCA, including a program the corporation initiated to give Mexican Nationals who would face deportation upon release from prison the opportunity to obtain the equivalent of a GED. Wilkes says he believes the CCA sponsorship money was for a Latino law-enforcement awards breakfast held at the conference.

"But when we found out about the Hutto facility," Wilkes said, "we returned the funds."

"We felt very strongly that we didn't want to be associated with that," he added.

Congressional Screening of "Least of These"

Please join the Women’s Refugee Commission and the American Civil Liberties Union for a Congressional screening of “The Least of These,” a remarkable new documentary on our efforts to improve and eliminate the detention of immigrant parents and their children.

Date: June 10, 2009

Location:  The Capitol Visitor Center, South Congressional Meeting Room

Time: 6:00 pm

Featuring Remarks by Representative Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-34th) and Representative Lynn C. Woolsey (CA-6th)

RSVP required to Sharita Gruberg (sharitag at wrcommission dot org)

(seating for the general public will be limited; refreshments will be provided)

By telling the powerful stories of detained families and their American advocates, the film draws attention to one of the most controversial aspects of U.S. immigration policy.  There will be a Q&A following the screening featuring advocates Michelle Brané (Women’s Refugee Commission), Vanita Gupta (ACLU) and Clark Lyda, one of the film’s directors.

Film Series May 28: Altered Lives: An Immigration Film Series

America's Family Prison showing at the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum!  Learn more about the history of border crossing in Texas beyond and including family detention.  It's only 5 bucks!

In conjunction with the special exhibit, Forgotten Gateway, the Museum

continues its "Altered Lives: An Immigration Film Series" this

Thursday evening with a series of short films presented by Austin Film

Festival. Thursday at 7pm; Museum members FREE; non-members $5.

Altered Lives: An Immigration Film Series

February – June 2009 7-9 PM

Spirit Theater

Film Organizations Members and Museum Members FREE

Non-Members, $5

The Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum is located at 1800 N.

Congress Avenue at the intersection of Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.

in downtown Austin, Texas. With close proximity to Interstate Highway

35 and MoPAC Expressway (Loop 1), the Museum is easy to access.

To help tell the story illustrated in the special exhibition,

Forgotten Gateway: Coming to America Through Galveston Island, the

Museum is hosting a film series that will run from February through

June.

May 28, 2009:

Austin Film Festival presents Stories of Borders: Short Films about

Immigration.  Join us for an evening of film and an appearance by

local filmmakers Matthew Gossage (Director of America's Family Prison)

and Angela Torres Camarena (Director of Exiled in America).  The short

film lineup includes:

Wet Foot/Dry Foot – Finding themselves stranded on a deserted island,

two Cuban refugees must struggle against nature and each other to

stand a chance at freedom. Get caught in the water, and they send you

home, but touch dry land and you’re allowed to stay. (USA, 17 min.)

Directed by: Carlos Gutierrez

Muertas – A young American journalist attempts to piece together the

fractured memories of a love lost amidst the ongoing Juarez, Mexico

murders. (USA, 9 min.) Directed by: Ryan Piers Williams

Victoria Para Chino – In May 2003 a refrigerated truck carrying more

than 80 undocumented immigrants from the Mexican border drove into the

Heartland of Texas. This is a story of that journey. (USA, 13 min.)

Directed by: Cary Fukunaga

America’s Family Prison – A determined people stand in solidarity with

imprisoned, non-criminal immigrant families to close the for-profit

“residential facility” which holds them. (USA, 18 min.) Directed by:

Matthew Gossage

Exiled in America – A group of siblings cope with the deportation of

their mother, a legal U.S. citizen, while calling into question the

legality and morality of the nation’s zero tolerance laws. (USA,

10min.) Directed by Angela Torres Camarena

T. Don Hutto featured on The Sanctuary blog

Award-winning blog, The Sanctuary, posted on the patterns of abuse in immigrant detention centers here in the US, beginning with T. Don Hutto.  While the case of sexual abuse at Hutto is a couple years old, issues like the shackling of women giving birth and medical care continue to plague the immigration detention system.   Regardless of the fact that the CCA staff person involved in Hutto sexual abuse case claimed it was a consensual relationship, as one of the largest corrections companies in the US, CCA should have been well aware of the rules prohibiting sexual relationships between guards and staff.  In a context where the staff stands between mundane items like blankets and toys and essential services like medical care, there can never be an equal and consensual relationship between a male guard and detained female.  

Check out the Sanctuary's other posts, too- a great resources for US immigration news. 

American Progress Interviews Least of These Directors

The Least of These has been showing to sold-out audiences around the country, provoking much-needed discussions about family detention at a national level.  If you haven't seen the film yet, you can watch it online at Snag Films.

The Center for American Progress  interviewed with the film's director, Clark Lyda, and Michelle Brané, of the Women's Refugee Commission.  Please think about scheduling a screening in your town, community, or home!  With immigration reform on the horizon, let's get people talking about an end to family detention now!

Rally for Immigrant Rights!

It's May 1, otherwise known as May Day, so get out and celebrate the 8 hour work day, brought to you by years of working class struggle. 

Around the country immigrant rights advocates are organizing marches, rallies, vigils, speakers, shout outs, and hooplas.  Texans United for Families will be marching in Austin's rally, calling for an end to family detention.  If you're in Central Texas, please join us!

For the rest of the world, please join a rally near you.  If you're unable, take a few minutes to contact your representatives and senators and call for an end to family detention and to reform the immigration system to restore American values of family and freedom. 

¡MARCHA POR REFORMA MIGRATORIA JUSTA Y HUMANA!

 

MARCH FOR JUST AND HUMANE IMMIGRATION REFORM!

6 p.m. Junte en las Escaleras del Sur del Capitolio del Estado de Texas

(Meet at Texas Capitol South Steps)

7 p.m. Marcha al Concilio de la Ciudad empieza

(March to City Hall begins)

En el Día Internaciónal de los Trabajadores, apoye reforma migratoria que incluye:

    * legalización

    * derechos laborales

    * aceso a la educación, salud y vivienda

    * una parada a las redadas y separación de familias

On International Workers Day come out to support immigration reform that includes:

    * a pathway to legalization

    * worker rights

    * access to education, healthcare and housing

    * an end to raids and family separation

Para más información (For more information):

caroline@austinirc.org, 512.524.2012

**Textea "Justicia" a 69866 para recibir noticias y alertas de accion de la lucha por los derechos migratorios.**

**Text "Justice" to 69866 to get updates and ways to take action on immigration reform**

Patrocinadores (Sponsors): Austin Immigrants Rights Coalition  ·  Grassroots Leadership  ·  PODER ·   Mamas of Color Rising  ·  Workers Defense Project  ·  Cristo Rey  ·  NICA

Austin Center for Peace & Justice  · American Friends Service Committee              

Paul Parsons, P.C., Immigration Attorney  ·   Inmigrantes Latinos en Accion         

MEChA  ·  ALLGO  ·   Alma de Mujer  ·  Resistencia  ·   Austin Voices  ·   ISO

Monkeywrench  ·   Fair Food Austin ·  El Shaddai Church ·  Palestine Solidarity Committee ·  Pax Christi Austin

News Coverage: Houston's El Día Highlights the Movement against Family Detention

A Spanish-language newspaper in Houston, Texas, published a feature on Hutto and family detention:

Familias inmigrantes encarceladas: Unidas, pero en el sufrimiento  

Huyen de las guerras, de las pandillas, de la violencia doméstica y cuando llegan a solicitar asilo, terminan encerrados con sus hijos en una cárcel de inmigración.

José Carrera

DIARIO EL DÍA

HOUSTON.— Es un edificio acondicionado con todas las comodidades. Allí, incluso, las familias pueden aprender inglés y hasta pueden dormir en camas cómodas. Además, les dan consejería a las madres para que, supuestamente, sean mejores madres. Reciben cuidados médicos de calidad y por sobre todo, el objetivo de este centro es mantener a las familias juntas para que no se extrañen. ¿Es este lugar un centro comunitario o un centro de albergue de familias necesitadas? No exactamente. Se trata más bien del Centro Residencial Familiar T. Don Hutto, como lo dice la Agencia de Inmigración y Control de Aduanas (ICE, por sus siglas en inglés). Hasta los que les contamos antes, el objetivo del centro parece noble y su nombre suena bonito y hasta atractivo. Lo que sucede adentro, sin embargo, ha sido motivo de demandas judiciales, denuncias públicas y ha indignado a muchos.

En realidad se trata exactamente de una prisión. Está ubicada a unas 150 millas de Houston, al noreste de Austin, donde actualmente se encuentran encerrados 500 inmigrantes indocumentados en vía de deportación o que están esperando la aceptación de su petición de asilo político en los Estados Unidos.

Revueltos, pero no juntos

De los 500 inmigrantes, unos 120 son madres con cerca de 130 niños –entre ellos varios recién nacidos- y unas 250 mujeres sin niño. Así se lo contó a El Día Bob Libal, miembro de “Grassroots Leadership” con sede en Austin y que junto a otras organizaciones de Texas y de todo Estados Unidos, están librando una batalla masiva para que todos los detenidos sean liberados y luego clausurar definitivamente la prisión, a la que llaman al “Guantánamo de Texas”.

La prisión Hutto fue habilitada por ICE en mayo de 2006 tras firmar un acuerdo intergubernamental con el condado Williamson para de esa manera poner un fin al sistema de “atrapado y luego liberado”, que consiste en que los indocumentados arrestados por la ‘migra’ salen libres con la promesa expresa de que se presentarán ante un juez de inmigración. “Sin embargo, antes de la apertura de Hutto, era rara la vez que se presentaban”, dice ICE. Y agrega: “Antes, los coyotes preferían traer a adultos con niños con la intención de evitar que los ilegales sean detenidos”.

Campaña de 100 días

“Nuestra meta es lograr que el presidente Barack Obama ordene el cierre de esta prisión. El sabe lo que sucede adentro de esta cárcel desde que andaba en campaña política”, expresó Libal. “Es vergonzoso encerrar a niños en una cárcel”, añadió. En Houston también hay un movimiento fuerte de abogados, líderes comunitarios y principalmente estudiantes universitarios que educan al público hispano y a la misma sociedad americana sobre los sufrimientos de las familias inmigrantes en Hutto.

Uno de los grupos más activos son los que forman parte de Estudiantes por una Sociedad Democrática (SDS, por sus siglas en inglés), que en la actualidad están en medio de una campaña de cien días en la que incluyen protestas frente a la prisión Hutton en Taylor, vigilias, recolección de firmas y manifestación en Houston delante del centro de detención de inmigrantes. En días recientes, el SDS armó una minicelda en el “Butler Plaza” de la Universidad de Houston, donde se encerraron familias completas y niños, para de esa manera concientizar a los estudiantes sobre los terribles efectos que tiene el encierro sobre las familias inmigrantes.

Rechazan la lógica del gobierno federal

Rob Block, miembro de SDS, y otros compañeros ya juntaron en Houston más de 600 firmas –a nivel nacional 47 mil- que serán enviadas al presidente Obama y al Departamento de Seguridad Interna –de la que forma parte el ICE- expresándoles su indignación sobre esta prisión y exigen su cierre.

“En ninguna circunstancia es justo aprisionar a los niños que no han cometido ningún crimen. Hutto es un claro ejemplo de cuán obsoleto es el actual sistema migratorio”, comentó Block. El y otros activistas rechazan la lógica del gobierno federal de poner a los padres (en este caso en su gran mayoría madres) indocumentados con sus hijos como una manera para mantenerlos unidos.”Es una buena premisa pero una mala solución. La prisión no es una herramienta para lidiar con la inmigración”, acotó.

Cárceles privadas = $$$

De acuerdo con “Grassroots Leadership”, Hutto deja una ganancia directa al condado Williamson unos 246.000 dólares por año, mientras que CCA recibe de ICE cerca de 2.8 millones de dólares mensualmente. Cada inmigrante encerrado costaría al gobierno federal unos 95 dólares por día, mientras que otras estimaciones indican que el costo real es 200 dólares por día. De ser así, comentan, convendría más poner a los inmigrantes presos en el hotel Hilton y todavía les sobrará mucho dinero. CCA opera alrededor de 70 centros de detenciones, cárceles y prisiones en 20 estados, 15 de ellas en Texas, añade Grassroots.

Stephanie Caballero, estudiante de Ciencias Políticas y Estudios Latinoamericanos en la Universidad de Houston, busca que más personas, especialmente los estudiantes, se unan al movimiento en contra de la proliferación de las cárceles privadas en donde los humildes inmigrantes –no aquellos que hayan cometido crímenes serios- son encerrados. “Queremos que los estudiantes se levanten para presionar a los poderosos”, dijo. “Estas cárceles no deben seguir existiendo. Tener prisiones como éstas es inmoral e inhumano”. Su parecer es que los niños no deben ser encerrados en prisiones, muchos menos por razones migratorias y especialmente para que los únicos beneficiados sean las empresas que promueven el aumento de las cárceles privadas.

Ella ha participado en varias protestas en Taylor y cada vez que se encuentra en el lugar siente una gran indignación. “Muy enojada”, dijo al contestar la pregunta sobre qué siente al visitar esa prisión. “Esta gente de ICE y CCA no tiene conciencia, no tiene moral. Cómo es que pueden tratar a los inmigrantes como criminales. No lo puedo creer. ¿Esto está pasando en mi propio estado?”, aseveró.

Es inhumano encarcelar a niños y mujeres

Delfina Pei, estudiante de tercer año de Ciencias Políticas en UH, comentó: “Me gustaría ver que todas estas prisiones privadas sean cerradas. Al proveer menos servicios a los inmigrantes encerrados, cárceles como Hutto están ganando más dinero”, expresó. Añade que al acercarse a la prisión Hutto, la primera cosa que le llama la atención es la zona de juegos para los niños, pero al prestar más atención, ve que todo el complejo carcelario está rodeado de altos cercos con alambre de púa. “Es un lugar donde no quisieras ver a tus hijos crecer”, comentó.

Lisa Delaune, madre de dos hijos y miembro de la organización WHEW, que presta ayuda a mujeres de minorías que acaban de salir de la cárcel o que no tienen casas o hayan sido víctima de violencia doméstica, se “encerró” en la celda de protesta en la Universidad de Houston para mandar un mensaje al público: “La inmigración ilegal no debería ser lo mismo que criminalidad. Es inhumano encarcelar a niños y mujeres. Como madre simplemente me indigna el solo hecho imaginar que tengo que estar encerrada en un cárcel con mis hijos de 6 y 12 años”.

Cambio a fuerza de demanda

•    La Unión Americana de Libertades Civiles (ACLU) ha presentado el año pasado una demanda para obligar a al ICE mejorar las condiciones de vida de los niños en la prisión Hutto. Muchos de los niños a los que ACLU representó ya salieron libres y se están quedando con otros familiares.

•    De acuerdo a ACLU, la demanda surgió debido a la Hutto viola varias provisiones de una decisión de corte de 1997 “Flores vs. Meese”, que estableció ciertos requisitos que deben cumplir en la forma de tratar a los menores que se encuentran bajo la custodia federal.

La demanda contra ICE permite a ACLU a ingresar a Hutto para monitorear si se ha cumplido 

o no los acuerdos de corte, pero este derecho se vence en agosto y los activistas temen que la situación se empeore. Tras la demanda contra ICE, éstas son algunas de las condiciones expuestas en el trato que en busca de mejoras dentro de dicho centro de detención

•    Niños mayores de 12 años tendrán la libertad de movilizarse libremente dentro de las instalaciones.

•    Todos los niños contarán con un médico pediatra las 24 horas del día.

•    No se usará más el sistema de conteo de tiempo para evitar que las familias no estén forzadas a permanecer 12 horas del día dentro de una celda.

•    Se instalarán cortinas alrededor de las salas sanitarias (toilets y duchas).

•    Se les ofrecerán paseos recreacionales a los niños.

•    Los niños tendrán nuevos juguetes, y nuevos libros.

•    Se mejorarán los menús (valor nutricional).

•    ICE también permitirá la orientación legal por parte de organizaciones comunitarias.

•    Permitir la visita por parte de familiares y amigos los siete días de la semana.

•    La agencia (ICE) solo llevará al centro Hutto a las familias que estén por ser deportadas.

La alternativa a la prisión Hutto

-    Cerrar esta prisión.

-    Que las madres y sus hijos indocumentados sean dejados libres sin pagar fianza, esto hasta que se resuelva sus casos migratorios en corte.

-    Si van a pagar fianza, no sea más de 1.500 dólares -que los niños queden con otros familiares.

-    Implementar un sistema de monitoreo (grillete electrónico, etc.) de los que salen libres.

Fuente: “Grassroots Leadership”

Las frases

-    “Ser indocumentado no es lo mismo que ser criminal. Es muy normal que las personas traten de buscar mejoras para su familia”. Stephanie Caballero, estudiante de Ciencias Políticas.

-    “Nuestra meta es lograr que el presidente Barack Obama ordene el cierre de esta prisión”. Bob Libal, miembro de “Grassroots Leadership”.

-    “Me gustaría ver que todas estas prisiones privadas sean cerradas”. Delfina Pei, estudiante de Ciencias Políticas en UH.

-    “Como madre simplemente me indigna el solo hecho imaginar que tengo que estar encerrada en un cárcel con mis hijos de 6 y 12 años”. Lisa Delaune, la organización WHEW.

Documental de sufrimiento y lucha

"The Least of These" es un documental sobre la prisión de Hutto y la lucha por mejorar las condiciones adentro o inclusive para cerrarlo. La cinta ya fue estrenada en Austin y ya hay en DVD.

Llanto de niños

Algunos testimonios de niños encerrados en esta prisión. Muchos de ellos ya salieron libres, mientras que otros siguen encerrados.

•    “Tengo miedo de los guardias”.

•    “Nos tratan como si no fuéramos nadie”.

•    “Estoy aterrorizada de que me separen de mi madre. No me puedo imaginar cómo será mi vida sin ella”.

•     Estoy muy deprimida y sin madre creo que me volveré totalmente loca”.

•     “No me gusta quedarme en esta cárcel. Tengo solamente nueve años de edad. Este lugar no es bueno para mí. Quisiera salir de la celda”.  Fuente: ACLU

Business Of Detention Website Nominated for Webby Awards!

The Business of Detention project has been nominated for best student website in the 13th Annual Webby Awards!

If you haven't checked it out, please do.  It is one of the most thorough investigations of the role of private contractors--especially the Corrections Corporation of America--out there.  They use amazing graphics and interactive design to great effect.  Please support them!

The Business of Detention project was created by reporters Renee Feltz ('08) and Stokely Baksh ('08), while graduate students at Columbia University's Graduate of Journalism. The purpose of their project was to create an innovative way to present the business of privatized immigration detention management — using solid reporting skills in a 4-part print story and pairing that up with video, audio and interactive info graphics.  The project became the first investigative-new media project for Columbia and has since won the Melvin Mencher Award for Superior Reporting and James A. Wechsler Award for National Reporting, and been a finalist for the SxSW Interactive Award.

Please visit http://pv.webbyawards.com to vote for us to win the People's Choice Award for best student category -  under 'Websites' and then 'Connections' and then 'Student.' You can vote until April 30th. Winners will be announced on May 5th.

Pass this along and tell your friends, family, and students!