100 signatures reached
To: Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
Release hunger striking Cuban national in detention
We call for the immediate parole of all the remaining Cuban asylum seekers currently housed at Northwest Detention Center, including those currently on hunger strike.
Why is this important?
Since June, the detention center in Tacoma has held up to 56 asylum seekers from Cuba who claimed asylum and passed credible fear tests at the US-Mexico border. ICE has the power to release these men and women. Instead they have stalled on their cases, promising parole to some and not granting it, promising bail to others and not granting it. As of October 24, we were aware of 9 left in detention.
Since August, various Cuban detainees have been using hunger strikes to protest this situation. On October 20, one Cuban asylum-seekers again started a hunger strike - he had been in detention for 4 months already, separated from his wife who he crossed the border with and who has family in the US. He was put in solitary confinement the next day and threatened with force feeding. He says, "With this strike, I demand an opportunity to be free and to be with my wife."
Asylum-seekers should not have to endanger their own health and expose themselves to retaliation from GEO Group and ICE in order to make progress in their cases.
We urge you to support these hunger strikers by:
1) Please sign this petition.
2) Please also call the NWDC - 253-779-6081. Urge the officers there to immediately release the remaining two dozen Cuban asylum seekers on parole. Sample script:
"Hello, I am Maria and I am calling to demand the immediate parole and release of the Cuban asylum seekers who remain at Northwest Detention Center. They have been told by the immigration court that ICE has the power to parole them. They have provided all documents requested. Yet they are being kept in punishing prison-like conditions without reason or explanation. Some have been told they would be released but were not given any more detail and they are still waiting. Please release these asylum-seekers immediately. "
Since August, various Cuban detainees have been using hunger strikes to protest this situation. On October 20, one Cuban asylum-seekers again started a hunger strike - he had been in detention for 4 months already, separated from his wife who he crossed the border with and who has family in the US. He was put in solitary confinement the next day and threatened with force feeding. He says, "With this strike, I demand an opportunity to be free and to be with my wife."
Asylum-seekers should not have to endanger their own health and expose themselves to retaliation from GEO Group and ICE in order to make progress in their cases.
We urge you to support these hunger strikers by:
1) Please sign this petition.
2) Please also call the NWDC - 253-779-6081. Urge the officers there to immediately release the remaining two dozen Cuban asylum seekers on parole. Sample script:
"Hello, I am Maria and I am calling to demand the immediate parole and release of the Cuban asylum seekers who remain at Northwest Detention Center. They have been told by the immigration court that ICE has the power to parole them. They have provided all documents requested. Yet they are being kept in punishing prison-like conditions without reason or explanation. Some have been told they would be released but were not given any more detail and they are still waiting. Please release these asylum-seekers immediately. "