Immigrants Seeking Asylum Coerced to Give Up Rights
Investigative report by Mabel Jimenez.
Stories have been emerging from border detention facilities about something that detainees call “Hieleras” or Iceboxes.
Holding cells are kept at unbearably low temperatures and being used as torture devices to discourage people from crossing into the US, or to pressure them to sign removal (deportation) orders.
Most of these accounts have been shared anonymously, but today, Ameli Ramirez is lending her face to an issue that urgently needs to be addressed. Detainees are being subjected to corporal punishment in the form of malnourishment (one meal per day) and extreme temperatures.
Ameli and her husband are only two of thousands to go through these “Hieleras”.
See video interview (Click Here)
What can be done about this?
If you or someone you know need legal help for an immigration case, you can contact one of these organizations:
The Northwest Immigrants Rights Project promotes justice for low-income immigrants by pursuing and defending their legal status by providing legal services.
The ICE Office of Professional Responsibility is where you can report cases of mistreatment by ICE or Border Patrol Agents. Call the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General at 1800-323-8603
Use the Online Detainee Locator System to see if someone you know is currently in ICE custody or has been released from ICE custody within the last 60 days.
The Immigration Advocates Network offers Pro-Bono legal services specialized in immigration cases.
Send a petition to President Obama asking him to provide humane conditions for detained refugee children.
Sign a petition to provide legal orientation to torture survivors in immigration detention
For press inquiries please email: [email protected]