John, A new Illinois state law that takes effect this month, the Illinois Way Forward Act, gives the Biden administration an opportunity to reduce its reliance on inhumane immigration detention at a time when COVID-19 is once again rapidly spreading in detention centers. We at the National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC) and our partners are advocating for people to be released from immigration detention centers in Illinois that will soon close. Join us in calling on the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to use their prosecutorial discretion to release, NOT transfer, everyone who is currently detained in detention centers in McHenry and Kankakee Counties in Illinois. SIGN THE PETITION NOW! |
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The omicron surge reached McHenry County Jail over the holidays. As of this week, 16 immigrants in ICE custody have tested positive. As a result, access to phones is very limited, court hearings are delayed, and people cannot communicate with their families and lawyers. People are forced to live in a lockdown situation that resembles solitary confinement. Meanwhile, ICE is reporting hundreds more COVID-19 infections at other detention centers across the country. Transferring people from dangerous conditions in one detention center to another will only continue the cycle of harm to immigrant communities. Illinois lawmakers passed the Illinois Way Forward Act last year because they heard their communities’ message loud and clear: ICE detention is inhumane. NIJC has joined with allies from throughout Illinois to demand that the Biden administration uphold the spirit of the new law—as well as the president’s own campaign commitments to build a fair and humane immigration system—by releasing, not transferring, everyone currently detained in ICE custody in Illinois. TAKE ACTION: Sign the petition to DHS and ICE to free people currently detained in Illinois detention centers that will soon close. |
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Thank you for taking action to help people in our communities who are unnecessarily detained. -Tara Tidwell Cullen
Director of Communications, National Immigrant Justice Center P.S. This action is hosted by our friends at Organized Communities Against Deportation, and when you sign the petition you can choose to receive email updates from them. Together we will keep you updated on other opportunities in the coming weeks to act in solidarity with detained immigrants in Illinois. If you're not interested in getting action alert emails from NIJC, you can update your preferences using the link at the bottom of this email. |
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