Today, ICE announced that it will end their contracts with two detention facilities: Irwin County Detention Center in Georgia, and Bristol County Detention Center in Massachusetts. This comes after years of community organizing and activism, particularly from the Detention Watch Network, to close these centers of abuse and terror.
This decision is long overdue, especially after it was revealed that women who were detained were subjected to non-consensual sterilization without consent at Irwin County Detention Center last September, and people detained at Bristol County Detention Center encountered mistreatment and civil rights violations. We applaud the efforts of all who spoke out against these establishments and hope that this is just the first step of the Biden administration continuing to divest in detention facilities.
Overall, the public welcomed the good news:
Welcome news that ICE will terminate detention contracts at the Bristol County Sheriff’s Office and the Irwin County Detention Center!
Both facilities have appalling records of harm and abuse, including allegations of nonconsensual sterilization at Irwin.https://t.co/bMpljjVysZ
— Aaron Reichlin-Melnick (@ReichlinMelnick) May 20, 2021
Moments ago, news broke that ICE will finally cut contracts with two detention facilities – Irwin Co. in GA and Bristol Co. in MA.
This is a victory, and it’s one that was made possible by the work of activists and organizers across the country. https://t.co/Rat4XZaGkP
— Lorella Praeli (@lorellapraeli) May 20, 2021
Important victory after years of organizing. This is the time to start shutting down detention centers across the country. #CommunitiesNotCages #FreeThemAll https://t.co/NhPoTTj89d
— Immigrant Justice Network (@ImmJustice) May 20, 2021
Incredible news today! A world without cages is possible and this is one important step in that direction. #CommunitiesNotCages https://t.co/TmtSGL2SGQ
— Interfaith Immigration Coalition (@interfaithimm) May 20, 2021
The Detention Watch Network has been at the forefront of this issue nationally, and wrote a celebratory and informative thread about the next steps for the Biden administration:
BREAKING: ICE is cutting contracts of two immigration detention centers– the Irwin County Detention Center in GA and the Bristol County Detention Center in MA! [statement link]
This is a decisive victory for the dignity of immigrants. #CommunitiesNotCages 1/ pic.twitter.com/YOOM8WfIPf
— Detention Watch (DWN) (@DetentionWatch) May 20, 2021
While we are encouraged with this step, it must be the first of many. The Biden administration must:
☑️Continue to cut detention contracts
☑️Shut down facilities for good
☑️Ensure that people are released and not transferred to other detention centers.— Detention Watch (DWN) (@DetentionWatch) May 20, 2021
TAKE ACTION:
Sign the petition to demand detention centers shut down: https://t.co/GAEYjNIwhY
Irwin is the first detention center in Detention Watch Network’s #FirstTen to #CommunitiesNotCages campaign to be on the path to closure.
— Detention Watch (DWN) (@DetentionWatch) May 20, 2021
Of course, this win could not have been possible if it wasn’t for countless grassroot activists who have been on the ground fighting to close these facilities for good! In Georgia, movements like Project South, Georgia Latino Alliance, Georgia Detention Watch, and SoGa Immigrant Support Network have worked tirelessly to #ShutDownIrwin!
BREAKING! Immigrants will no longer be detained at the corporate-run Irwin County Detention Center, where women were subjected to medical abuse.
This momentous victory is the result of years of organizing & exposing the human rights violations by orgs on the ground.
Onward!
— Azadeh Shahshahani (@ashahshahani) May 20, 2021
GA-BASED PARTNERS HAVE MOVEMENT VICTORY IN THE SOUTH! @ProjectSouth @GLAHR_ @GaDetWatch @SoGA_Support Together, we #ShutDownIrwin
ICE contract terminated in Irwin County after years of organizing! https://t.co/Rv9u4eeIo2— Project South (@ProjectSouth) May 20, 2021
This is the result of years of advocacy from organizations like @ProjectSouth @DetentionWatch @GaDetWatch @GLAHR_ @splcenter and many many others, including nurse Dawn Wooten who blew the whistle on conditions. But especially people detained at the facility who spoke up.
— Jose Olivares (@jlosc9) May 20, 2021
While there is much news on Irwin County Detention Center, activists in Massachusetts, such as the FANG Collective has worked to #ShutDownIce since 2018. Here is a detailed thread of their journey through this fight:
Victory! After 3 years of our #ShutDownICE campaign, Bristol County's 287g and IGSA contracts with ICE have been canceled! pic.twitter.com/RoE3KdnUNM
— FANG (@FangCollective) May 20, 2021
Also, we must not forget how Dawn Wooten, a nurse at the facility, revealed the horror of forced sterilization at the Irwin County Detention Center last fall. Individuals honored her bravery, and celebrated her in this victory as well:
Last fall, Dawn Wooten, a nurse at the facility blew the whistle on conditions at Irwin, including medical mistreatment and knowingly placing staff and detainees at risk of Covid-19:https://t.co/a0IeS6WxBn
— Jose Olivares (@jlosc9) May 20, 2021
Such a huge win that couldn't have happened without all the work from orgs like @GLAHR @DetentionWatch @ProjectSouth & many others including Dawn Wooten who courageously came forward to expose these abuses.
— Families Belong Together (@fams2gether) May 20, 2021
Last year @maddow ran this whistleblower Dawn Wooten interview, after @jbwashing/@jlosc9 exclusive, about women detained by ICE in GA having procedures without consent. @TheTinaVasquez, @itscaitlinhd broke new details. Now DHS says GA facility will close. https://t.co/XRndD7zLNB
— Jacob Soboroff (@jacobsoboroff) May 20, 2021
Even with this celebratory news, this could potentially mean that people detained individuals are just transferred to another facility, and Detention Watch Network urges individuals to be released as they await their case to be heard:
🗣️As we celebrate today's win, take action NOW! People detained at the Bristol County and Irwin County detention centers are at risk of being transferred during a deadly pandemic.
RT & call the @WhiteHouse and @ICEgov to demand #FreeThemAll & releases NOT transfers! pic.twitter.com/hAyFOxoA7J
— Detention Watch (DWN) (@DetentionWatch) May 20, 2021
If you want to get involved, you can send a letter to Biden urging the shutdown of more detention facilities:
TAKE ACTION:
Sign the petition to demand detention centers shut down: https://t.co/GAEYjNIwhY
Irwin is the first detention center in Detention Watch Network’s #FirstTen to #CommunitiesNotCages campaign to be on the path to closure.
— Detention Watch (DWN) (@DetentionWatch) May 20, 2021
You can also retweet to call out ICE and the White House:
People detained at the Bristol County and Irwin County detention centers are at risk of being transferred during a deadly pandemic.
RT & call the @WhiteHouse and @ICEgov to demand #FreeThemAll & releases NOT transfers! https://t.co/H8wWmKYlql
— Detention Watch (DWN) (@DetentionWatch) May 20, 2021
