AI Justice's Detention Program

‘Like sardines in a can’: Complaint alleges medical neglect at Florida ICE detention center – Miami Herald

by Monique Madan, Miami Herald “The 31-page complaint was filed by Miami-based immigration advocates at Americans for Immigrant Justice and Immigrant Action Alliance, along with seven other immigrant rights organizations. Two dozen detainees said they have experienced inadequate medical care and neglect; lack of hygiene products, sanitation, and PPE; transfers between facilities without quarantine; failure to follow court orders to …

Immigrant Right Advocates Submit Complaint on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Abuses at Glades County Detention Center Amidst Reckless COVID-19 Response

For Immediate Release February 22, 2021 Contact: Jessica Schneider, Director of AI Justice’s Detention Program, [email protected] GLADES COUNTY, FL— Americans for Immigrant Justice (AI Justice), along with eight other immigrant rights organizations, submitted a multi-individual federal civil rights complaint against the Glades County Detention Center (Glades) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The complaint was submitted on behalf of the approximately 300 …

Detained person with wrists tied

Inside Ice’s pattern of medical neglect as immigrants flown on its planes – The Guardian

By Angelica Albaladejo, The Guardian “The first time Immigration and Customs Enforcement flew Marta across the country, she feared catching the coronavirus. After five months of being shuttled among various facilities, she was worried about infecting others. In February, when her cross-country journeys started, ICE knew Marta’s lupus and asthma could increase her risk of contracting the virus and experiencing severe …

AI Justice's Detention Program

Prior to COVID, text messages were free for detainees in Miami ICE detention. Not anymore

By Monique O. Madan, The Miami Herald “Jessica Schneider, director of Americans for Immigrant Justice’s detention program — a Florida organization that provides free legal services — said that some detainees ‘are now unable to communicate with us about coordinating their legal consultation via the tablet system, which is the main way AI Justice is coordinating intakes right now for …

Civil Rights Advocates Demand Miami ICE Facility Stop Feeding Pork to Detained Muslims

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 19, 2020 Contact: Eric Naing, [email protected] or Ariela Moscowitz, [email protected] Civil Rights Advocates Demand Miami ICE Facility Stop Feeding Pork to Detained Muslims  ICE Chaplain’s Dismissive Response to Immigration Detainees’ Complaints: “It is what it is.” WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Muslim Advocates, Americans for Immigrant Justice and the law firm King & Spalding LLP sent a …

Pork or Rotten Food: Muslim Detainees at Krome Say They’re Forced to Choose – Miami New Times

By Alexi C. Cardona, Miami New Times “Lily Hartmann, a human-rights advocate for Americans for Immigrant Justice, says the detainees asked officials for other food and tried to address the issues on their own before turning to advocates. The letter says detainees’ complaints to detention staff have gone ignored and that a chaplain dismissed them by saying, ‘It is what …

Lawyer Filing Papers

‘Into the shadows’: New federal rules could push asylum seekers further into poverty

By Monique O. Madan, The Miami Herald “Jennifer Anzardo Valdez, the program director for the Children’s Law Program at Americans for Immigrant Justice, a Florida non-profit immigration organization representing Miami’s most at-risk communities, is on the staff’s legal team charged with analyzing the administration’s new work-permit rules. She says the ‘rules are designed to keep asylum seekers not just from …

Detained person with wrists tied

Sick ICE detainees are scared to die of COVID. Some beg federal judge to release them

By Monique O. Madan, The Miami Herald “Attorney Lisa Lehner of Americans for Immigrant Justice, a Florida non-profit immigration organization, told the judge that her client, Deivys Perez Valladares, who was transferred from Broward to Krome, never received a decision regarding his release or an explanation for his transfer. ‘Medical staff at BTC did not complete a medical examination prior …

Detainees Blast ICE Bid To Upend Pandemic Response Order

By Nathan Hale, Law 360 Detainees at three Florida facilities have slammed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement‘s bid to escape an order requiring it to improve conditions and limit transfers due to the COVID-19 pandemic, saying the Florida federal court’s ruling was justified and more recent events only reinforce that conclusion. Responding Monday to ICE’s motion for reconsideration of the June …