John,

Immigrant detainees in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody are being psychologically tortured through rampant use of solitary confinement.

Imagine being trapped alone in a tiny cell for 22 hours a day, with little human contact or stimulation. It's a nightmare scenario the UN has warned could constitute torture.

Despite vowing to tackle this abuse as a candidate, President Biden has actually allowed the cruel practice of solitary confinement to intensify at ICE detention facilities since taking office.

Forced isolation and sensory deprivation cause severe psychological damage like anxiety, depression, cognitive deterioration, hallucinations, and suicidal thoughts. Subjecting any human being to this anguish is a fundamental violation of human rights and dignity.

Help end ICE's solitary confinement. Demand Biden upholds human rights and delivers on his vow to ban this cruel practice.

ICE cannot continue to operate as a rogue, unaccountable force that systematically violates the human rights of immigration detainees.

Yet, the number of detainees with mental health issues being locked in these torturous conditions spiked from 35% to 56% just last year alone. At the root of these systemic injustices is an agency culture of dehumanization and lack of accountability.

The utter disregard ICE has displayed for human life, dignity, and due process has gone on for far too long.

It's time for the Biden administration to categorically prohibit this form of torture under all circumstances and uphold the basic dignity of all people, regardless of citizenship status.

Tell President Biden to follow through on his human rights commitments and end solitary confinement of immigration detainees once and for all.

Together we will abolish these inhumane detention centers once and for all.

- DFA AF Team