FREE PEOPLE FROM ICE DETENTION LETTER / POSTCARD ACTION GUIDE reform in his first 100 days, we are targeting SUMMARY OF THE ISSUE Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas: he has the authority as head of What’s happening: Immigrants and asylum- the Department of Homeland Security (aka seekers are locked up by Immigration and DHS, ICE’s parent agency) to implement Customs Enforcement (ICE) in conditions policy and structural changes to the notorious for overcrowding and inadequate immigration system that would free people medical care, making them tinderboxes from ICE detention. We also know President for the spread of COVID-19. Most of these Biden is deferring immigration-related facilities are run or managed by for-profit matters and decisions to DHS Secretary companies, which have a well-documented Mayorkas. record of harsh conditions and negligent care, and lack of accountability. CALL TO ACTION Black and brown people make up the overwhelming majority of those detained and DHS Secretary Mayorkas must free have long faced added discrimination and immigrants and asylum-seekers in the other abuses at the hands of ICE. Again and Biden administration’s first 100 days. He again, they bear the brunt of harsh, punitive should take immediate steps to review enforcement policies and practices anchored everyone’s case with the presumption of in detention and powered by private prison liberty not detention, end family detention, companies. and stop using private prison companies for immigration detention. The U.S. government must reset the immigration detention system – moving We’re asking Amnesty activists to send away from a punitive system to one based on letters, cards, or postcards to DHS Secretary humanity, compassion, fairness and respect. Mayorkas (a la Write for Rights!) to flood his office with hundreds if not thousands of Why now? The number of people in pieces of mail demanding change. immigration detention is historically low, but thousands of people are still unjustly locked up and in danger, especially during a HOW TO TAKE ACTION pandemic. This means that calls for freedom and changes to the system are not only Handwritten letters are best for that personal feasible but more important than ever. touch, but typed letters are welcome, too! You could also lean into your creativity As people arrive at the southern border streak and make DIY cards with drawings, seeking safety, political pressure historically stickers, etc. If you’re writing multiple leans into detaining them. People who come letters or making multiple cards, make sure to the U.S. seeking safety should not be to enclose each one in its own separate detained but instead safely released into envelope (so if you’re writing five letters or communities with support from community- cards, you should have five envelopes)! based programs. The punitive system of unjust detentions must end. Local postcards from your city or town illustrate voices across the country are demanding change and for immigrants and TARGET asylum-seekers to be released. If writing a postcard, consider While we want to make sure President Joe buying some that Biden prioritizes immigration detention depict landmarks or sites from community i.e., city hall, national park, other tourist MESSAGING GUIDANCE attractions, etc.! Personalized messages in your unique voice are best, so make sure to focus your Send your letters, cards and postcards to: letter and postcards on why freeing people The Honorable Alejandro Mayorkas from immigration detention is important to Secretary YOU and your community. But if helpful, US Department of Homeland Security we included here some talking points from Washington, DC 20528 Amnesty that can help you get started: *If cost is a barrier for your participation in It’s time to restore our humanity this action and you need help with stamps/ • The Biden administration must build an postage or postcard costs that are over $10, immigration system based on humanity, let us know by downloading this form and we compassion and respect may be able to reimburse you. • Everyone has the right to be treated with dignity, respect, and fairness, no matter AMPLIFY YOUR CALLS ON their immigration status SOCIAL MEDIA No one should be detained solely for seeking safety or because of their We know President Biden, DHS Secretary immigration status Mayorkas, and other government officials monitor conversations on social media • The punitive system of unjust detentions to gauge the public’s interests. We need must end to make sure they see Amnesty’s calls to • The standard for our immigration system prioritize freeing people from immigration should be freedom, not detention detention in Biden’s first 100 days on their • Continuing the policy and practice of social media feeds. detaining people simply for seeking safety in this country or solely because Elevate these calls and your letter/postcard of their immigration status is a violation action on your social media channel to keep of human rights. It’s punitive, harmful, our demands on their radar. Take a picture of can be deadly, and breaks international or with your letter or postcard, highlight our law call to action in your post, and make sure • The anguish of prolonged and indefinite to tag @POTUS and@SecMayorkas! Please detention is only amplified by the also use the hashtag #LettersToMayorkas so horrors of inadequate conditions – no we can amplify your activism on our main one should worry for their lives and their account! safety in facilities the government forces people into • No one should lose months and even REPORT BACK! years of their lives simply for seeking safety or because of their immigration status Let us know you took this action here, so we can track how many letters and postcards There should be a presumption of liberty for have gone out to DHS Secretary Mayorkas! an affirmative case review

• The use of detention as a default response must families should not be separated cease • Children should live in freedom with • DHS should establish an affirmative file their parents and families as they pursue review process to consider release of their right to seek safety. They should people in detention, with a presumption be able to grow up with their families, of liberty friends and communities • This process should prioritize people • We must end the policy and practice of who are most vulnerable to harm in family detention custody, including individuals who face a heightened risk of serious illness or For-profit detention fuels human rights death from COVID-19, transgender abuses people, pregnant people, HIV+ people, and all families and children • Immigration detention centers run by • All persons should be considered private prison companies have a well- eligible for release pursuant to this documented record of harsh conditions process, including those subject to and negligent care, and lack of statutory mandatory custody accountability • Such affirmative action is in line with • The U.S. government should move out President Biden’s stated commitment to of the business of using private prison racial equity and human rights companies for immigration detention. For-profit detention furthers cycles of There are alternatives to detention, and human rights abuses, making suffering community support services, including case profitable. People seeking safety should management programs, that must no longer no longer be valued by the dollar amount be an option but the NORM their detention produces • President Biden should fulfill his • There are compassionate alternatives to campaign pledge to end privatized detention that are efficient, effective, immigration detention. Just as he has and humane already ordered phasing out contracts for • We need to invest in true, community- private prisons for the Bureau of Prisons, based support services, rather than he should extend that policy to DHS and creating additional forms of detention, phase out contracts for private prisons such as ankle monitors or surveillance for immigration detention. The U.S. • Case management programs that help should also end the use of prisons, local people find legal representation, guide jails, and other criminal incarceration them through the court system, and facilities for immigration detention connect them with other community • A handful of corporations should not resources are successful and cheaper be responsible for the wellbeing of by pennies on the dollar. Using These people seeking safety in this country for programs recognizes the humanity and years to come. These corporations are dignity of people seeking safety, as well responsible to their stakeholders, not the as their families. It ensures people don’t public. We need a system that prioritizes get funneled into long-term detention transparency and can be safe and together while they • If we end for-profit detention, we have go through the process of seeking safety the power to finally put a stop to mass detention Families should be free and together White supremacy • Children should never be detained cannot inform our because of their immigration status, and immigration policies • The increasing and punitive use of immigration enforcement has disproportionately affected Black and brown communities, both a reflection and reinforcement of systemic racism and lack of racial equity • Over the past four years, people seeking safety and immigrants have been subjected to cruel and dehumanizing policies that have unjustly blocked them entering the U.S., locked them up, and deported them. But the origins of these policies long pre-date the Trump administration, as do the foundations of a punitive system.