LOS ANGELES — Freedom for Immigrants (FFI) began its chrysalis period today, pausing much of its external work in order to develop its renewed vision, theory of change and strategic plan to abolish immigrant detention nationwide. The chrysalis will last until April. 

PINE PRAIRIE, LA — The Southeast Dignity Not Detention (SDND) coalition, a group of local and national organizations committed to immigrants’ rights, today applauds the impending closure of the Pine Prairie ICE Processing Center (Pine Prairie), a remote immigrant detention center in Louisiana with a long history of human rights abuses and inhumane conditions. The coalition is also calling on the Biden administration to immediately release the more than 100 community members who have been cruelly transferred to Winn Correctional Center (Winn), another privately-run, understaffed, and long-troubled immigration detention center in Louisiana. 

WASHINGTON, D.C. — News reports suggest the Biden administration is ready to accept the following extremist anti-immigration policies in exchange for Congress passing the White House’s supplemental funding package: halting U.S. asylum law and reviving a version of the inhumane and illegal Title 42 policy; expanding expedited removal nationwide; and implementing mandatory detention for all newly arrived migrants, despite the continued human rights violations and premature deaths detention causes. 

WASHINGTON, D.C. — In their efforts to expand military aid to Ukraine and Israel with its supplemental funding request, the Biden administration and Democrats are reportedly caving to Republican demands to impose cruel, Trump-like immigration restrictions. 

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Amid record high immigration detention levels under the Biden administration and bipartisan efforts in the Senate to permanently gut the U.S. asylum system in exchange for the White House’s funding request for Israel and Ukraine, Freedom for Immigrants urges the Senate to safeguard critical asylum protections and reject more funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and foreign wars. According to recent reports, the deal in discussion would implement an asylum ban, create near impossible barriers to apply for asylum, and undermine humanitarian and other forms of parole. 

NEW ORLEANS — Private prison company GEO Group is reportedly ending its operations of the Pine Prairie ICE Processing Center (Pine Prairie), a remote immigration detention center in Pine Prairie, Louisiana, with a heinous record of abuse and torture. The company will lay off 119 employees. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has stated its intent to continue using the detention facility through its agreement with Evangeline Parish. The Southeast Dignity Not Detention Coalition, including those formerly detained at Pine Prairie, are calling for the full closure of the prison and for the release of all who remain detained. 

LUMPKIN, Ga. — More than 120 individuals detained at the Stewart Detention Center (SDC) in Lumpkin, Georgia, submitted a petition today to local officials and the Biden administration demanding action in response to inhumane conditions and mistreatment at the detention facility, including mold leading to eye conditions, spoiled food causing food poisoning, denial of hot water and medical care neglect. Privately operated by mega prison corporation CoreCivic, Stewart is an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center. 

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Governor Newsom vetoed a popular criminal justice and immigration reform bill late Friday evening, for now upholding California’s practice of double punishing immigrant community members.