Dear Friend,

The Trump administration has torn an estimated 2,500 children from their
parents and placed them in detention centers.(1) Many of them have
disappeared into the system and will never see their families again.

When it comes to the conditions inside these detention centers, we are
being left in the dark while the billion dollar private prison industry is
expected to reap massive profits as a result of the Trump administration’s
proposal to spend billions more in federal taxpayer dollars to warehouse
children and their families.(2)(3)[ [link removed] ][IMG]

Private prisons are being run without the same oversight as other prisons,
thanks to a loophole that allows them to withhold information. Together,
we must change that. That is why we are working with our partners to pass
the Private Prison Information Act, which would ensure private contractors
adhere to the same public disclosure laws as their federal counterparts.

[ [link removed] ]Call on Congress to act immediately and demand accountability from the
private prison industry.

There is no time to waste. If we don’t act now, as it stands, any
potential violations of the law, abuse, or mistreatment of detainees that
occur in private prisons may remain hidden from public scrutiny. The lack
of transparency also makes it harder to guard against waste of taxpayer
dollars.

The Department of Justice Inspector General found that federal prisons run
by private companies are substantially less safe and secure than those run
by the Bureau of Prisons. Just last month, there were reports that “almost
300 migrant children have been removed from a border patrol facility in
Texas after media reports of lawyers describing ‘appalling’ and
potentially dangerous conditions.”(4)

This legislation is now more important than ever. The public needs to know
what is happening inside those detention centers so that we can hold them
accountable to their actions. 

[ [link removed] ]Demand private prison contractors adhere to public disclosure laws.

In solidarity,

Diego, along with Analeeza, Caitlin, Brenna, Eddie, Gabby, Lindsay, Mai,
Mary, Molly, Raquel, and Scottie (the Courage team)

Footnotes:
1.
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2. [ [link removed] ][link removed]
3. [ [link removed] ][link removed]
4. [ [link removed] ][link removed]



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