Refugee Protection

Bi-Partisan Task Force Encourages the United States to Uphold the Highest Standards for Due Process and Fair Treatment of Asylum Seekers

noreply@blogger.com (Annie Sovcik) — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 13:58:01 PDT

In its recently released report, the bi-partisan, Independent Task Force on U.S. Immigration Policy [hereinafter “the Task Force”] co-chaired by Jeb Bush, President, Jeb Bush & Associates LLC, and Thomas F. McLarty III, President, McLarty Associates, and sponsored by the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) cited U.S. refugee policies as an area in need of immediate and serious review. Given this

noreply@blogger.com (Asa Piyaka) — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 12:55:08 PST

Too little, too late – the Department of Homeland Security’s Response to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom’s Report on Jailing Asylum SeekersIn a January 8, 2009 letter to DHS Assistant Secretary for Policy Stewart Baker, the Chair of the bi-partisan U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, Felice Gaer, told DHS that the actions DHS has taken, in response to the

noreply@blogger.com (Asa Piyaka) — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 12:54:14 PST

On the Road with Human Rights First:Thoughts from our visit to assess the treatment of asylum-seekers being imprisoned by ICE in local Virginia jailsTuesday, November 18, 2008Tomorrow, three staff members from Human Rights First and a representative from Physicians for Human Rights, will be traveling to central Virginia to visit two local jails where asylum-seekers and immigrants are being

To Breathe Free: Living Up to our Promise

noreply@blogger.com (JaVon) — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 13:57:30 PDT

A few weeks ago, I visited two of the largest immigration detention centers in the country, both in Texas, both essentially prisons. The 2000-bed Willacy Detention Center, in Raymondville, Texas, is a surreal place, resembling a massive detention camp, with its ten huge, tent-like structures, “pods” to hold detainees, barbed wire, uniformed guards, and detainees in prison garb. From Willacy,

Willacy Detention Center: A Tent City

elisabeth.centeno@gmail.com (Elisabeth) — Fri, 23 May 2008 10:45:41 PDT

Today’s count: 1,700 detaineesOn Wednesday, we visited the Willacy Detention Center in Raymondville, TX, accompanied by representatives of community groups, churches and faith-based groups, as well as pro bono legal service organizations. The Willacy Detention Center – dubbed “Ritmo” by local attorney Jodi Goodwin in an interview with The Washington Post – opened in August of 2006 and consists of

Challenges to Legal Representation at Pearsall Detention Center

elisabeth.centeno@gmail.com (Elisabeth) — Fri, 23 May 2008 10:34:31 PDT

Today’s count: 1,490 detainees (1,113 males and 277 females)

Asylum Seekers Detained in Isolated Pearsall Facility

elisabeth.centeno@gmail.com (Elisabeth) — Fri, 23 May 2008 08:58:31 PDT

Visiting Pearsall and Willacy Detention Centers Next Week

noreply@blogger.com (Refugee Protection Team) — Fri, 16 May 2008 15:04:00 PDT

Next week, three of us from Human Rights First’s Refugee Protection Program will be in Texas to visit the South Texas Detention Center in Pearsall, TX (more commonly referred to as Pearsall Detention Center) on Tuesday and Willacy County Detention Center in Raymondville, TX on Wednesday. Joining us on the visit to the facilities will be representatives of local legal service providers, pro bono