Press Release

Two Indian Men on Day 12 of Hunger Strike at Otero County Processing Center Transferred to Aurora, Colorado

ICE yet again seeks to deport hunger strikers in poor health Around noon yesterday two of the men on hunger strike at the Otero County Processing Center (New Mexico) were transferred to the Denver Contract Detention Facility in Aurora, Colorado. On Friday afternoon, their attorney met with the Supervisory Deportation and Detention Officer to discuss … Read moreTwo Indian Men on Day 12 of Hunger Strike at Otero County Processing Center Transferred to Aurora, Colorado

Indian Men on Day 18 of Hunger Strike at El Paso Subjected to Involuntary Hydration

Yesterday afternoon, advocates learned that the asylum seeking men on hunger strike in the El Paso Service Processing Center (EPSPC) were issued an ultimatum to drink Boost, or they would be given involuntarily involuntary hydration (IV’s). The men refused to drink the Boost, and were shown court orders for the IV’s. In the words of … Read moreIndian Men on Day 18 of Hunger Strike at El Paso Subjected to Involuntary Hydration

Indian Man on Hunger Strike at Otero County Processing Center Deported

On the afternoon of July 23, 2019, one of five Indian men on hunger strike at the Otero County Processing Center (OCPC) was abruptly transferred to the El Paso Service Processing Center (EPSPC). This morning, a search on ICE’s online locator yielded no results, indicating he was no longer in ICE custody. Advocates feared this man was in the process of being deported, and hidden from supporters in an attempt to further isolate him. Sadly, we just received word that he was put on a plane early this morning and deported. ICE speedily deported someone who has not eaten in more than a week. ICE regularly advises detained individuals weeks in advance of their expected removal, yet this man was given no forewarning. Despite ICE’s repeat boilerplate claims that “it does not retaliate in any way against hunger strikers,” the hasty and unannounced removal of a man who has not eaten for more than a week is clear evidence of ICE retaliation against a hunger striker.

Read moreIndian Man on Hunger Strike at Otero County Processing Center Deported

Indian Asylum Seekers on Hunger Strike at El Paso and Otero Threatened with Force Feeding and Retaliation

July 22, 2019 Indian asylum seekers are on prolonged hunger strike demanding their freedom. At El Paso four men 14 days without food told force-feeding orders being sought today. At Otero 4 men 7 days without food report severe verbal retaliation and threats. El Paso Hunger Strike Four asylum seekers from India who began a … Read moreIndian Asylum Seekers on Hunger Strike at El Paso and Otero Threatened with Force Feeding and Retaliation

Day 10 of hunger strike, men moved to problematic El Paso detention center, involuntary force feeding imminent

Last evening, July 17, the four asylum seekers on hunger strike at the Otero County Processing Center (OCPC) were moved to the El Paso Service Processing Center (EPSPC). This transfer is a common pattern with prolonged hunger strikes at OCPC, a facility that, in the last year, has seen more than 100 hunger strikes. At OCPC, once the health of an individual on hunger strike begins to deteriorate, ICE routinely transfers that person to EPSPC. Many of the nine asylum seeking hunger strikers who were force-fed in January-February of this year at EPSPC began hunger strikes at OCPC.

Read moreDay 10 of hunger strike, men moved to problematic El Paso detention center, involuntary force feeding imminent

July 14, Five Men Currently on Hunger Strike for Their Freedom

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 14, 2019
Media Contacts: Margaret Brown Vega and Nathan Craig avid@chihuahuan.org

Chronic Hunger Strikes at Otero County Processing Center, New Mexico

Chaparral, NM: As of July 9, 2019, five men at the Otero County Processing Center (OCPC) are on hunger strike seeking their freedom from prolonged ICE detention. By the 15th, they will not have eaten a meal in six days; some of the men are not drinking water. In June 18 men from Cuba were on hunger-strike for over a week. These two recent hunger strikes follow 93 other hunger strikes that occurred last year and were reported in an ICE inspection of OCPC in January. Unnecessarily detained for an extended time, these five men now on hunger strike understandably now want their freedom. Our cruel immigration system replete with unduly skeptical immigration judges,  cruel ICE officials, profiteering private contractors, and inhumane detention conditions bring these individuals to this point of desperation. We call on ICE to immediately release these men on their own recognizance.

Handwritten note from one of the hunger strikers says, “If I died in U.S. Immigration Camp only ICE responsible for my death…”

Read moreJuly 14, Five Men Currently on Hunger Strike for Their Freedom

Immigration Advocates Call For Immediate Release Of LGBT Individuals From ICE Detention in New Mexico Following Death Of Transgender Asylum Seeker

Despite Documented Abuses, Inaction Results in Death of Transgender Woman at the Otero County Processing Center Following the tragic death of Johana Medina, a transgender woman who was seeking asylum and detained at the Otero County Processing Center (OCPC), Advocate Visitors with Immigrants in Detention (AVID) in the Chihuahuan Desert and Freedom for Immigrants are … Read moreImmigration Advocates Call For Immediate Release Of LGBT Individuals From ICE Detention in New Mexico Following Death Of Transgender Asylum Seeker

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