To: Sheriff Steven Tompkins, Superintendent Eugene Sumpter, Jr., Acting Field Office Director Sean Gallagher, and Assistant Field Office Director Todd Thurlow
Meet Demands of South Bay Immigration Detainees on Hunger Strike
It has come to my attention that at least 200 immigrants detained by Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at the Suffolk County House of Corrections in Boston have initiated a hunger strike on Thursday, October 3rd. The immigrant detainees are protesting against substandard and unsanitary conditions and are prepared to continue the hunger strike at length if needed.
In addition, we have heard from the families of Clayton Gordon (A037 749 187) and Phonn Beth that they were put in solitary confinement abruptly and with no disciplinary record.
We stand with the immigrant detainees in asking for immediate release of Mr. Gordon and Mr. Beth from solitary confinement, as well as a meeting with Sheriff Tompkins and a representative from both the ACLU and Prisoner Legal Services to address the following concerns together:
• Improve food safety: Trays, dishes, and utensils are poorly cleaned. Many detainees have recently been diagnosed with stomach ulcers caused by infection with the H. pylori bacterium. They believe this infection is being spread by poor sanitation.
• Equal access to programs and services: Immigrants held in ICE detention do not have access to the prison's law library. The need for access is crucial, as there is no right to an attorney or public defender in immigration court. In addition, ICE detainees are currently required to spend most of their days locked in their cells often with the lights turned off, and only have one television in the recreation area. These inhumane conditions foster interpersonal conflicts as well as depression.
• Support visitation rights: Immigrants held at Suffolk are often transferred to facilities far from their families, making visitation prohibitive. The process to have family and friends visit is bureaucratic and difficult. A detainee has a short timeline to meet with visitors to help him out of detention and stop any pending deportation. Visitation and communication must be better facilitated.
If these demands are not met, Suffolk will likely be in violation of their agreement with ICE, whose standards state:
• “Food service facilities and equipment will meet established governmental health and safety codes, as documented by an independent, outside source.”
• “Facility cleanliness and sanitation will be maintained at the highest level.”
• “Detainees will have daily opportunities to participate in leisure-time activities outside their respective cells or rooms.”
• “Detainees will be advised of visiting privileges and procedures as part of the facility’s admission and orientation program in a language they can understand.” (http://www.ice.gov/detention-standards/2008/)
As friends, family members and neighbors of immigrants detained in your jail, we ask that you address these concerns immediately and collaboratively with the hunger strikers who are courageously standing up for dignified conditions and fair treatment.
In addition, we have heard from the families of Clayton Gordon (A037 749 187) and Phonn Beth that they were put in solitary confinement abruptly and with no disciplinary record.
We stand with the immigrant detainees in asking for immediate release of Mr. Gordon and Mr. Beth from solitary confinement, as well as a meeting with Sheriff Tompkins and a representative from both the ACLU and Prisoner Legal Services to address the following concerns together:
• Improve food safety: Trays, dishes, and utensils are poorly cleaned. Many detainees have recently been diagnosed with stomach ulcers caused by infection with the H. pylori bacterium. They believe this infection is being spread by poor sanitation.
• Equal access to programs and services: Immigrants held in ICE detention do not have access to the prison's law library. The need for access is crucial, as there is no right to an attorney or public defender in immigration court. In addition, ICE detainees are currently required to spend most of their days locked in their cells often with the lights turned off, and only have one television in the recreation area. These inhumane conditions foster interpersonal conflicts as well as depression.
• Support visitation rights: Immigrants held at Suffolk are often transferred to facilities far from their families, making visitation prohibitive. The process to have family and friends visit is bureaucratic and difficult. A detainee has a short timeline to meet with visitors to help him out of detention and stop any pending deportation. Visitation and communication must be better facilitated.
If these demands are not met, Suffolk will likely be in violation of their agreement with ICE, whose standards state:
• “Food service facilities and equipment will meet established governmental health and safety codes, as documented by an independent, outside source.”
• “Facility cleanliness and sanitation will be maintained at the highest level.”
• “Detainees will have daily opportunities to participate in leisure-time activities outside their respective cells or rooms.”
• “Detainees will be advised of visiting privileges and procedures as part of the facility’s admission and orientation program in a language they can understand.” (http://www.ice.gov/detention-standards/2008/)
As friends, family members and neighbors of immigrants detained in your jail, we ask that you address these concerns immediately and collaboratively with the hunger strikers who are courageously standing up for dignified conditions and fair treatment.
Why is this important?
On Thursday, September 26, immigrant detainees being held at South Bay Jail in Boston, Massachusetts announced a public campaign to fight inhumane treatment inside the jail. Detainees cited food safety issues and denial of access to standard services as just some of the conditions which they are forced to endure. After attempts to raise their concerns to prison officials proved unsuccessful, on Thursday, October 3, over 200 detainees at South Bay initiated a hunger strike. Sign the petition to show your solidarity with the detainees and join them in insisting that their demands be met.
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El jueves 26 de Septiembre, los inmigrantes presos en la cárcel de South Bay en Boston, Massachusetts anunciaron una campana publica contra el tratamiento inhumano por el cual están sometidos dentro la cárcel. Los detenidos citan cuestiones de salud alimentaria y la prohibición de acceso a servicios corrientes como solo algunas de las condiciones por las cuales están hechos a endurar. Después de que los intentos de expresar sus preocupaciones a los oficiales de la cárcel probaron ser inútiles, mas de 200 detenidos en el centro de detención en South Bay iniciaron una huelga de hambre el 3 de Octubre. Firme la petición para demostrar su solidaridad con los detenidos.
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El jueves 26 de Septiembre, los inmigrantes presos en la cárcel de South Bay en Boston, Massachusetts anunciaron una campana publica contra el tratamiento inhumano por el cual están sometidos dentro la cárcel. Los detenidos citan cuestiones de salud alimentaria y la prohibición de acceso a servicios corrientes como solo algunas de las condiciones por las cuales están hechos a endurar. Después de que los intentos de expresar sus preocupaciones a los oficiales de la cárcel probaron ser inútiles, mas de 200 detenidos en el centro de detención en South Bay iniciaron una huelga de hambre el 3 de Octubre. Firme la petición para demostrar su solidaridad con los detenidos.