FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 1, 2019
Media contact: Rebekah Entralgo rentralgo@freedomforimmigrants.org, 786-897-4080
LOUISIANA — Dozens of family members who have loved ones detained at the Richwood Correctional Center will gather together -- some driving across the country -- in Monroe, Louisiana in front of the facility on November 2 to protest their indefinite and abusive detention.
What: Dame La Mano Cubano Rally for Detained Loved Ones
Who: Advocates, attorneys, and family members of men detained at Richwood.
Where: Richwood Correctional Center, 180 Pine Bayou Cir, Monroe, LA 71202
When: Saturday, November 2 at 11:00 AM CST
This day of action comes just weeks after Roylan Hernandez Diaz, a 43-year-old asylum seeker from Cuba, died of an apparent suicide at Richwood following his placement in solitary confinment during a hunger strike. According to a Buzzfeed News report, despite the fact that Hernandez Diaz had passed his credible fear interview, his request to be released on parole to his wife in the US was denied. Hernandez Diaz’s story is one familiar to many loved ones of detained individuals. In September 2019, a federal judge found that the ICE field office in Louisiana has been issuing blanket denials of parole for asylum seekers, in violation of policy. The judge ordered ICE to resume individualized parole hearings, but legal service providers and advocates report that blanket denials continue.
“This is a hard battle. You become mentally worn out, you sacrifice moments with your children to try to save your brother's life -- in my case -- because it is how it is. It is not just about freeing immigrants from a jail cell, it is about saving their lives, because as we have seen, anyone in detention risks losing their life,” said Alejandra Castellano, the sister of an asylum seeker from Cuba detained at Richwood Correctional Center.
Louisiana has become ground zero for immigration detention expansion in the US. The number of ICE detention centers in Louisiana has rapidly increased from 2 to 11 within less than a year, totaling 9,000 people detained in a myriad of private prison and jail contracting. Conversely, despite close family ties and valid credible fear claims, the number of people released on parole and bond has plummeted since 2016.
This year alone there have been at least 4 large scale hunger strikes in Louisiana Detention Centers, including Pine Prairie, Bossier, River, and LaSalle, protesting prolonged detention and mistreatment. There are documented instances of being tear gassing, shot at with rubber bullets, beaten, placed in solitary confinement, and blocked from contacting families or attorneys. Richwood Detention Center now joins this growing list.
“Family of men detained at Richwood and community human rights observers visiting the facility share that directly following the apparent suicide, men were handcuffed and beaten agressively while protesting Roylan’s death and their own prolonged detention and mistreatment. This excessive use of force resulted in serious medical injuries, including hospitalization. It’s unconscionable that this appears to be par for the course. Those standing up for their rights are being abused in detention with total impunity. We demand an immediate investigation.” says Sofia Casini, Southern Regional Coordinator, Freedom for Immigrants.