Target: U.S. President Joe Biden
Goal: Discontinue the practice of detaining immigrants in prisons.
Increasingly, immigrants who are detained on suspicion of being in the country without proper documentation are being held by the United States government in literal prisons. They are detained for the duration of the time they await their immigration proceedings, and without any formal charges. This is part of a continuing trend of militarized U.S. borders and criminalizing immigrants.
Beginning in the 1990s, individuals have increasingly been criminalized for crossing the U.S. border without authorization. This is something that had always been a civil offense for decades, prior to recent legislation and before the criminalization trend began. Despite this, and importantly, individuals are now being detained indefinitely in U.S. prisons without being formally charged with any crimes. Following 9/11, more border control agencies were created and their officers have been increasingly militarized in a manner similar to U.S. police.
The increasing militarization of U.S. borders and the criminalization of immigrants have combined with rising xenophobic sentiments and the for-profit prison industry to create significant financial and political incentives to incarcerate anyone suspected of being an undocumented immigrant. This is completely unacceptable. President Biden and his administration must do everything possible to ensure the U.S. is no longer literally imprisoning individuals – without any criminal charges – for indefinite periods of time. Sign below to call on them to take immediate action.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear President Biden,
Currently, there are significant numbers of individuals being held in U.S. prisons, indefinitely, without any formal criminal charges against them. These individuals, suspected of being undocumented immigrants, are simply being swept up in a wave of increasing militarization and criminalization.
The popularity of xenophobic sentiments and the rise of for-profit prisons systems in the United States are clear. The two have combined to create significant financial and political incentives to fill prisons with anyone suspected of being an undocumented immigrant. This is continuing to happen at an alarming rate and is completely unacceptable. You and your administration must stop this inhumane practice of detaining immigrants, or those suspected of being an undocumented immigrant, in prisons.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: DIAC images
646 Signatures