(From Barry Carter, associate of THE Alliance)
Immigrant's Rights Groups to March in Farmville, VA. Against Immigrant Detention Center
Farmville, VA - Hundreds are expected from across Virginia at a 3/7 rally
and march in Farmville, VA in opposition to plans for a new privately-run
immigrant detention center slated to open in June of this year. The
project, a partnership between Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE),
the private company Immigration Centers of America (ICA) and the Town of
Farmville has generated criticism since it was approved in the fall of
last year. The protest is organized by the Virginia Immigrant People's
Coalition, a network of organizations concerned with immigrant justice.
"This is an extension of a failed immigration policy," said Ricardo
Juarez, of the immigrant's rights group Mexicanos sin Fronteras, that
coordinated the campaign against the controversial anti-immigrant
resolution in Prince William County, VA last year. "The jobsite raids and
detentions are hurting the families in our communities while doing nothing
to address the root causes of forced migration. Real security for our
communities will come when we renegotiate trade agreements like NAFTA that
have hurt workers on both sides of the border."
ICA, a new company run by two real estate developers and the CEO of an
industrial bakery supply, has no experience in detention. They propose to
address this deficiency by hiring experienced staff from Piedmont Regional
Jail. "This does nothing to reassure us," said Sue Frankel-Streit, an
organizer with The People United. "With two detainees dying from medical
neglect in two years, Farmville has a terrible track record,"
Frankel-Streit continued referring to a scandal that erupted in the New
York Times and Washington Post last month and ultimately resulted in ICE
halting all detentions at Piedmont. Two members of the Farmville Town
Council, which is to have oversight of the proposed new facility, had
upper-level management positions at Piedmont when the deaths occurred -
Edward Gordon as Medical Director, and Donald Hunter and Assistant
Superintendent.
In the wake of increased jobsite raids in Virginia, plans for the
detention center have sent ripples of fear through the immigrant community
and generated organized resistance to the project. "We are here to say No
More Jails," said Margarita Gonzalez, a Mexican immigrant to Louisa
County, VA. "We are only trying to create secure lives for ourselves just
as you are and we hope you will leave us to live in peace."
"We didn't cross the border, the border crossed us," said Angeles Carter
of Occoneechee Village, one of the member organizations in the VIP
Coalition, "We are indigenous people to America and never agreed to any
borders on our land. Thus we are not illegal and should not be
imprisoned." Carter echoes the sentiments of many detainees who identify
with indigenous ancestry.
Protest organizers expect buses and caravans from Tidewater, Richmond,
Fredericksburg, Northern VA, DC, Winchester, Harrisonburg,
Charlottesville, Blacksburg and Lynchburg. Interviews are available with
organizers from each of these locations.
Barry Carter 434-374-5178252-521-1821 cell
and march in Farmville, VA in opposition to plans for a new privately-run
immigrant detention center slated to open in June of this year. The
project, a partnership between Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE),
the private company Immigration Centers of America (ICA) and the Town of
Farmville has generated criticism since it was approved in the fall of
last year. The protest is organized by the Virginia Immigrant People's
Coalition, a network of organizations concerned with immigrant justice.
"This is an extension of a failed immigration policy," said Ricardo
Juarez, of the immigrant's rights group Mexicanos sin Fronteras, that
coordinated the campaign against the controversial anti-immigrant
resolution in Prince William County, VA last year. "The jobsite raids and
detentions are hurting the families in our communities while doing nothing
to address the root causes of forced migration. Real security for our
communities will come when we renegotiate trade agreements like NAFTA that
have hurt workers on both sides of the border."
ICA, a new company run by two real estate developers and the CEO of an
industrial bakery supply, has no experience in detention. They propose to
address this deficiency by hiring experienced staff from Piedmont Regional
Jail. "This does nothing to reassure us," said Sue Frankel-Streit, an
organizer with The People United. "With two detainees dying from medical
neglect in two years, Farmville has a terrible track record,"
Frankel-Streit continued referring to a scandal that erupted in the New
York Times and Washington Post last month and ultimately resulted in ICE
halting all detentions at Piedmont. Two members of the Farmville Town
Council, which is to have oversight of the proposed new facility, had
upper-level management positions at Piedmont when the deaths occurred -
Edward Gordon as Medical Director, and Donald Hunter and Assistant
Superintendent.
In the wake of increased jobsite raids in Virginia, plans for the
detention center have sent ripples of fear through the immigrant community
and generated organized resistance to the project. "We are here to say No
More Jails," said Margarita Gonzalez, a Mexican immigrant to Louisa
County, VA. "We are only trying to create secure lives for ourselves just
as you are and we hope you will leave us to live in peace."
"We didn't cross the border, the border crossed us," said Angeles Carter
of Occoneechee Village, one of the member organizations in the VIP
Coalition, "We are indigenous people to America and never agreed to any
borders on our land. Thus we are not illegal and should not be
imprisoned." Carter echoes the sentiments of many detainees who identify
with indigenous ancestry.
Protest organizers expect buses and caravans from Tidewater, Richmond,
Fredericksburg, Northern VA, DC, Winchester, Harrisonburg,
Charlottesville, Blacksburg and Lynchburg. Interviews are available with
organizers from each of these locations.
Barry Carter 434-374-5178252-521-1821 cell
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