6 Immigrant Rights Demonstrators Held in Solitary Confinement in ICE Detention Facility

Nine transnational young people turned activists say they were forced to leave their homes in the US through deportation or because of discriminatory laws that made living in America difficult. On July 22nd they took a stand for immigrant justice near the Nogales border crossing on the Mexican side. The next day the group made their way into the United States after requesting asylum. They were immediately detained by US immigration authorities and imprisoned at the Eloy Detention Center—an immigration detention facility that is privately owned and operated by the Corrections Corporation of America.

The National Immigrant Youth Alliance (NIYA) organized the "Dreamers" protest. NIYA reports that 6 of the Dream 9 group were in solitary confinement as of the afternoon of July 26th.

On July 25th at the Day Worker Center of Mountain View, California, members of immigrant advocacy groups attended an event honoring volunteers and people who participated in a national fast for immigration reform earlier this year. The community activists rallied support for the Dream group during the event. Speakers familiar with the issue said that with a mere flourish of the pen Obama could enable the Dreamers release so they can live with their families in the US. All of the Dreamers have long-standing ties to the U.S. and with their lack of cultural connection to Mexico deserve to be released on humanitarian grounds. A petition is at link here.