Friend –

Last week, a whistleblower complaint was filed out of the Irwin County Detention Center in Georgia with horrific allegations of forced hysterectomies on immigrants in detention, as well as reports of blatantly deficient COVID-19 precautions and inhumane treatment of detained people.

The ACLU filed a FOIA request to uncover more details around these claims. But what we already know with certainty is that a disturbing pattern of abuses and cruelty have existed within immigration detention centers long before this moment.

Immigration detention in the U.S. is fundamentally broken, and it's time we all speak out. Send a message to Congress and urge them to defund ICE and dismantle detention, starting with shutting down Irwin.

ACLU Supporter, what has been detailed within the complaint – and the accounts of many who have come forward – should concern us all.

Our country has a long history of the forced sterilization of Black and Brown people, people with disabilities, and intersex people. And these recent allegations also follow months of reports of sexual abuse by ICE staff, increased use of force against detained people, and refusal to keep people safe from COVID-19.

Moreover, this year has become the deadliest year for people in ICE detention since fiscal year 2005 – with the deaths of 20 people having sadly been confirmed so far.

The ACLU has been working to secure the release of as many immigrants as possible since the pandemic began. But the reality remains that this shameful system is beyond repair.

Inaction is not acceptable. Congress controls how your federal taxpayer dollars are spent. It must defund ICE and force the agency to shut down Irwin. Please, send your message today.

Thanks for taking action,

Madhuri Grewal
Federal Immigration Policy Counsel, ACLU