Despite the civil and non-penal nature of immigration detention, multiple DHS Office Inspector General (OIG) reports indicate that detention facilities regularly do not meet standards and the conditions are abusive. Given the government’s own admission of these problems, and many other non-governmental reports that expose these conditions, public advocacy calling for an end to immigration detention is absolutely critical. AVID volunteers directly observe immigration detention, and regularly speak to and support those who are directly impacted by this abusive system. We study and research immigration detention by reading government documents, advocacy reports, academic pieces, and news stories. From this informed position, we make our voices heard: at the ballot box, in correspondence to state and national legislators, through letters to ICE, talking to journalists, in crafting and publishing opinion editorials, and by engaging in public outreach. If you are concerned about immigration detention, want to know more, and want to do something about it, then we welcome your participation. Please contact us.
