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Dear Friend,
At Freedom for Immigrants, we believe no one organization can end immigration detention on its own. That’s why we work with community members facing detention, their families, and groups on the ground to advance our mission of abolition. Our work is truly “Powered by the People,” and all of our programs, including our Monitoring and Policy work, are possible in part because of these relationships with folks on the ground and with supporters like you.
Your support of our Annual Appeal, Until Everyone is Free: Powered by the People, will enable us to continue building power within our communities, as well as provide opportunities for directly impacted people to step into their leadership and expertise at FFI in the upcoming year. To kick off our Annual Appeal, you can show your support by helping us reach our goal of 200 donors for Giving Tuesday by November 28. And don’t forget to follow us on social media to learn more about our Annual Appeal and other ways to support our work!
The New York Dignity Not Detention (DND) bill would end Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) contracts with New York State counties and take New York out of the business of immigration detention. As part of the coalition fighting detention in New York, we believe now is the right time
to pass this legislation. Only county jails in Chautauqua, Clinton, Orange, and Rensselaer counties have active contracts with ICE.
When detained individuals speak out about the flagrant abuse they endured in New York detention centers, they face severe retaliation. An example of this abuse recently occurred at the Orange County Correctional Facility (OCCF), where several detained individuals spoke out against racism by guards and were met with excessive use of force. The successful passage of DND would bring an end to this cycle of abuse and corruption.
Ending immigration detention in New York would also be an important step in the broader movement to abolish all prisons. The coalition has worked to engage all corners of the state to discuss, educate each other, and come together to fight not only for
DND, but for the end of all jails and detention in the state.
For instance, we forged alliances with groups based in Troy, NY, to discuss the imperative of ending incarceration and the pressing needs of communities in that region, such as advocating for the release of individuals like Ms. Q. This collaboration resulted in participatory defense campaign rallies, including one held outside the Rensselaer County Jail.
Meanwhile, the coalition is forming new partnerships with activists in Orange County with the goal of ending the ICE contract at the OCCF. In a move that follows trends seen across the country, the OCCF has expressed interest in terminating its ICE contract early.
This trend underscores why it’s important for local community members to engage in pro-immigrant campaigns anywhere ICE contracts exist, and how
building across movements can strengthen our fight for the freedom and dignity of all people. When we organize locally and block by block, we create opportunities to educate neighbors, build community power, and ultimately build alliances for the broader abolition movement.
Down South, Communities Mobilize Against
Detention in Louisiana
A powerful community mobilization continues to grow out of Louisiana, a Deep South statethrust into the epicenter of our nation’s shameful legacy of immigrant caging. The Trump administration expanded immigrant detention in Louisiana from 2 to 12 detention centers almost overnight, with lucrative contracts awarded to county jails and private prisons that had been emptied out by Louisiana’s bi-partisan decriminalization policies in 2017. This expansionfueled the same rampant abuses the people of Louisiana fought hard to end.
In response, Freedom for Immigrants first supported a single volunteer to create a Visitation Group based in New Orleans. This group, Louisiana AID, then grew statewide alongside others likeHome is Here andImmigrant Alliance for Justice and Equity. Soon after, together with local grassroots community partners leading the work like ISLA, we formed the Southeast Dignity Not Detention Coalition.
Ernesto Rocha-Cuadra, a 42-year-old Nicaraguan activist who died while detained in the Central Louisiana ICE Processing Center (Jena) in Jena, Louisiana, because he bravely exposed abuses, medical neglect, and due process violations while in ICE custody. Before he died, Ernesto called FFI’s National Immigration Detention Hotline to report these abuses and filed
dozens of complaints to ICE leadership and oversight bodies. In the spring, FFI and coalition partners submitted three federal civil rights complaints concerning abuses at Jena and stood in solidarity with hundreds inside who organized a mass hunger strike.
the country. Today, we continue their call for an independent investigation into Ernesto’s death and justice for his community, which begins with thepermanent closure of the private, GEO Group-run prison thattook his life. Please join us and his family in powerful remembrance — Ernesto, presente!
Welcoming New Staff
Welcome to FFI, Mich González!
Mich is a proud transgender Latino who was raised by a single teen mom and her queer immigrant family. His family overcame poverty and housing instability in South Florida to provide Mich the opportunity to become a first-generation university and law school graduate.
Mich leads with compassion to uplift the strategic vision and mission of Freedom for Immigrants. He works to advance the struggle to abolish oppressive institutions that perpetuate violence and replace them with social supports that help communities thrive.
Mich brings to FFI over a decade of experience advocating alongside immigrants, LGBTQ+ people, youth
of color, and other criminalized communities. Mich has supported hundreds of people to regain their freedom from immigration detention, reunite with loved ones, and find safety.
More importantly, he has learned from men, women, and children from all over the world who were subjected to government-sanctioned cages across the United States about the true meaning of resilience, dignity, and collective liberation.
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