FREE PEOPLE FROM ICE DETENTION LETTER / POSTCARD

FREE PEOPLE FROM ICE DETENTIONLETTER / POSTCARDACTION GUIDE

SUMMARY OF THE ISSUEWhat’s happening: Immigrants and asylumseekers are locked up by Immigration andCustoms Enforcement (ICE) in conditionsnotorious for overcrowding and inadequatemedical care, making them tinderboxesfor the spread of COVID-19. Most of thesefacilities are run or managed by for-profitcompanies, which have a well-documentedrecord of harsh conditions and negligentcare, and lack of accountability.Black and brown people make up theoverwhelming majority of those detained andhave long faced added discrimination andother abuses at the hands of ICE. Again andagain, they bear the brunt of harsh, punitiveenforcement policies and practices anchoredin detention and powered by private prisoncompanies.The U.S. government must reset theimmigration detention system – movingaway from a punitive system to one based onhumanity, compassion, fairness and respect.Why now? The number of people inimmigration detention is historically low,but thousands of people are still unjustlylocked up and in danger, especially during apandemic. This means that calls for freedomand changes to the system are not onlyfeasible but more important than ever.As people arrive at the southern borderseeking safety, political pressure historicallyleans into detaining them. People who cometo the U.S. seeking safety should not bedetained but instead safely released intocommunities with support from communitybased programs. The punitive system ofunjust detentions must end.TARGETWhile we want to make sure President JoeBiden prioritizes immigration detentionreform in his first 100 days, we are targetingSecretary of Homeland Security AlejandroMayorkas: he has the authority as head ofthe Department of Homeland Security (akaDHS, ICE’s parent agency) to implementpolicy and structural changes to theimmigration system that would free peoplefrom ICE detention. We also know PresidentBiden is deferring immigration-relatedmatters and decisions to DHS SecretaryMayorkas.CALL TO ACTIONDHS Secretary Mayorkas must freeimmigrants and asylum-seekers in theBiden administration’s first 100 days. Heshould take immediate steps to revieweveryone’s case with the presumption ofliberty not detention, end family detention,and stop using private prison companies forimmigration detention.We’re asking Amnesty activists to sendletters, cards, or postcards to DHS SecretaryMayorkas (a la Write for Rights!) to floodhis office with hundreds if not thousands ofpieces of mail demanding change.HOW TO TAKE ACTIONHandwritten letters are best for that personaltouch, but typed letters are welcome, too!You could also lean into your creativitystreak and make DIY cards with drawings,stickers, etc. If you’re writing multipleletters or making multiple cards, make sureto enclose each one in its own separateenvelope (so if you’re writing five letters orcards, you should have five envelopes)!Local postcards from your city or townillustrate voices across the country aredemanding change and for immigrants andasylum-seekers to be released. If writing apostcard, considerbuying some that

depict landmarks or sites from communityi.e., city hall, national park, other touristattractions, etc.!Send your letters, cards and postcards to:The Honorable Alejandro MayorkasSecretaryUS Department of Homeland SecurityWashington, DC 20528*If cost is a barrier for your participation inthis action and you need help with stamps/postage or postcard costs that are over 10,let us know by downloading this form and wemay be able to reimburse you.AMPLIFY YOUR CALLS ONSOCIAL MEDIAWe know President Biden, DHS SecretaryMayorkas, and other government officialsmonitor conversations on social mediato gauge the public’s interests. We needto make sure they see Amnesty’s calls toprioritize freeing people from immigrationdetention in Biden’s first 100 days on theirsocial media feeds.Elevate these calls and your letter/postcardaction on your social media channel to keepour demands on their radar. Take a picture ofor with your letter or postcard, highlight ourcall to action in your post, and make sureto tag @POTUS and@SecMayorkas! Pleasealso use the hashtag #LettersToMayorkas sowe can amplify your activism on our mainaccount!REPORT BACK!Let us know you took this action here, so wecan track how many letters and postcardshave gone out to DHS Secretary Mayorkas!MESSAGING GUIDANCEPersonalized messages in your uniquevoice are best, so make sure to focus yourletter and postcards on why freeing peoplefrom immigration detention is important toYOU and your community. But if helpful,we included here some talking points fromAmnesty that can help you get started:It’s time to restore our humanity The Biden administration must build animmigration system based on humanity,compassion and respect Everyone has the right to be treated withdignity, respect, and fairness, no mattertheir immigration statusNo one should be detained solely forseeking safety or because of theirimmigration status The punitive system of unjust detentionsmust endThe standard for our immigration systemshould be freedom, not detentionContinuing the policy and practice ofdetaining people simply for seekingsafety in this country or solely becauseof their immigration status is a violationof human rights. It’s punitive, harmful,can be deadly, and breaks internationallawThe anguish of prolonged and indefinitedetention is only amplified by thehorrors of inadequate conditions – noone should worry for their lives and theirsafety in facilities the government forcespeople intoNo one should lose months and evenyears of their lives simply for seekingsafety or because of their immigrationstatusThere should be a presumption of liberty foran affirmative case review The use of

detention as a default response mustceaseDHS should establish an affirmative filereview process to consider release ofpeople in detention, with a presumptionof libertyThis process should prioritize peoplewho are most vulnerable to harm incustody, including individuals who facea heightened risk of serious illness ordeath from COVID-19, transgenderpeople, pregnant people, HIV people,and all families and childrenAll persons should be consideredeligible for release pursuant to thisprocess, including those subject tostatutory mandatory custodySuch affirmative action is in line withPresident Biden’s stated commitment toracial equity and human rights For-profit detention fuels human rightsabuses There are alternatives to detention, andcommunity support services, including casemanagement programs, that must no longerbe an option but the NORM There are compassionate alternatives todetention that are efficient, effective,and humaneWe need to invest in true, communitybased support services, rather thancreating additional forms of detention,such as ankle monitors or surveillanceCase management programs that helppeople find legal representation, guidethem through the court system, andconnect them with other communityresources are successful and cheaperby pennies on the dollar. Using Theseprograms recognizes the humanity anddignity of people seeking safety, as wellas their families. It ensures people don’tget funneled into long-term detentionand can be safe and together while theygo through the process of seeking safetyFamilies should be free and together Children should never be detainedbecause of their immigration status, andfamilies should not be separatedChildren should live in freedom withtheir parents and families as they pursuetheir right to seek safety. They shouldbe able to grow up with their families,friends and communitiesWe must end the policy and practice offamily detention Immigration detention centers run byprivate prison companies have a welldocumented record of harsh conditionsand negligent care, and lack ofaccountabilityThe U.S. government should move outof the business of using private prisoncompanies for immigration detention.For-profit detention furthers cycles ofhuman rights abuses, making sufferingprofitable. People seeking safety shouldno longer be valued by the dollar amounttheir detention producesPresident Biden should fulfill hiscampaign pledge to end privatizedimmigration detention. Just as he hasalready ordered phasing out contracts forprivate prisons for the Bureau of Prisons,he should extend that policy to DHS andphase out contracts for private prisonsfor immigration detention. The U.S.should also end the use of prisons, localjails, and other criminal incarcerationfacilities for immigration detentionA handful of corporations should notbe responsible for the wellbeing ofpeople seeking safety in this country foryears to come. These corporations areresponsible to their stakeholders, not thepublic. We need a system that prioritizestransparencyIf we end for-profit detention, we havethe power to finally put a stop to massdetentionWhite supremacycannot inform ourimmigration policies

The increasing and punitive useof immigration enforcement hasdisproportionately affected Black andbrown communities, both a reflectionand reinforcement of systemic racismand lack of racial equityOver the past four years, people seekingsafety and immigrants have beensubjected to cruel and dehumanizingpolicies that have unjustly blocked thementering the U.S., locked them up,and deported them. But the origins ofthese policies long pre-date the Trumpadministration, as do the foundations ofa punitive system.

immigration system that would free people from ICE detention. We also know President Biden is deferring immigration-related matters and decisions to DHS Secretary . Local postcards from your city or town illustrate voices across the country are demanding change and for i