For Immediate Release
Contacts:
Aurora, CO:
Cristian Solano-Córdova, Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition (CIRC), 720.434.4632, cristian@coloradoimmigrant.org
Sarah McAfee, Director of Communications, Center for Health Progress, 720.270.6470, Sarah.McAfee@centerforhealthprogress.org
Ana Rodriguez, Colorado People’s Alliance, 720.255.3921, Ana@coloradopeoplesalliance.org
Pamela Resendiz, United for a New Economy, 720.507.5635, pamela@unecolorado.org
WHAT: Press conferences in California and Colorado demanding U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and private prison company the GEO Group to be held responsible for the inhumane quarantine taking place at the Denver Contract Detention Facility (DCDF) in Aurora, CO. An individual infection of chickenpox in late September led to at least 25 individuals becoming infected with chickenpox and/or shingles.
WHEN: Thursday, October 25 at 11 am PDT/noon MDT
WHO: California Immigrant Youth Justice Alliance, Contra Costa Immigrant Rights Alliance, Freedom for Immigrants, the Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity, Pangea Legal Services, American Friends Service Committee, Colorado People’s Alliance, Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition, Center for Health Progress, and United for a New Economy
WHY: The quarantine and lack of adequate treatment and preventative medical care has resulted in serious negative consequences for those impacted, such as: 1) the postponement of all hearings, including bond hearings, by weeks or even months; 2) the inability to be released through bond, parole, or deportation, and therefore prolonging detention; 3) the inability to receive visits from loved ones or attorneys, with serious due process implications; and 4) severe medical neglect, as individuals are not receiving desperately needed treatment for other illnesses and conditions. Some of the individuals affected by the quarantine were transferred to DCDF following the end of the ICE contract in August 2018 at the West County Detention Facility in Richmond, CA.
The Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition (CIRC) is a statewide, membership-based coalition of immigrant, faith, labor, youth, community, business and ally organizations founded in 2002 to improve the lives of immigrants and refugees by making Colorado a more welcoming, immigrant-friendly state. CIRC achieves this mission through non-partisan civic engagement, public education, and advocating for workable, fair and humane immigration policies.