Loss of Free Phone Access – A Critical Lifeline in Detention – Triggers Hunger Strikes
www.detentionwatchnetwork.org
Washington, DC – Last week reports began emerging of a troubling trend in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention. People detained in 16 facilities from across the country reported losing free phone access – a critical lifeline for the mental health of a person in detention to stay connected with their loved ones and prepare for their immigration case. In a haphazard rollout and without notice, ICE has confirmed it will be ending this program at all facilities.

Detention Watch Network and The Legal Aid Society are reporting that ICE facilities are taking away one of the few concessions to the fact that people in immigration detention are, in fact, people: free phone access. This access has been one of the most important lifelines people in ICE facilities have to emotional support and legal aid. DWN says, “In a haphazard rollout and without notice, ICE has confirmed it will be ending [free phone access] at all facilities.”

The issue is so important to detainees that people in at least five ICE facilities have gone on hunger strike to draw attention to it. Word from the detainees is that the hunger strikes have been met with brutal retaliation from ICE agents, including beatings.

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(Taken from an email sent to me by Never Again Action.)