Muslim civil rights group calls for release of detainees and investigation of abuse allegations
(FILES) In this file photo taken on July 14, 2019, a prisoner shines a lighter from the main ICE detention center in Los Angeles, California.
(HOUSTON, TX, 6/20/2020) – Today, the Houston chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Houston), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, will join a peaceful protest with FIEL for immigrants in ICE detention.
WHERE/WHEN: At 3 p.m. in front of Houston City Hall, 901 Bagby St, Houston, TX 77002
CONTACT: CAIR-Houston President and Chairman of Board of Directors John Floyd, Attorney, jfloyd@cair.com, 713.224.0101, CAIR-Houston Communications and Program Coordinator Ambreen Hernandez, ahernandez@cair.com, 973.495.0976
CAIR-Houston and FIEL are calling on elected officials and Houston community to urge the City of Houston and Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials to immediately release immigrants detained amid the coronavirus pandemic and string of alarming incidents of abuse by ICE officials.
In a statement, CAIR-Houston President and Chairman of Board of Directors John Floyd, Attorney, said:
“We cannot forget that immigrants, who have committed no crime other than having the desire to feed their families, remain detained in ICE custody in inhumane and deplorable conditions.
“We must continue to fight for the release of all immigrants and reunite the families that have been forced apart and held in private prisons across this state. Detention is deadly for our most vulnerable during this pandemic, especially as we see a rise in COVID-19 cases across the State of Texas.
“The largest infection rates are occurring in our prisons and detention centers due to the cramped conditions of confinement and lack of testing, hygiene and adherence to CDC protocols.
“We cannot allow this to continue in our own city. People held in the inhumane conditions of ICE detention are truly desperate and afraid. They are being subjected to mistreatment and abuse and are begging for our help during a global pandemic. This is a crisis that demands immediate action from our elected officials”
He urged community members to take action by contacting their local and state representatives to demand that detainees are released immediately.
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
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CONTACT: CAIR-Houston President and Chairman of Board of Directors John Floyd, Attorney, jfloyd@cair.com, 713.224.0101, CAIR-Houston Communications and Program Coordinator Ambreen Hernandez, ahernandez@cair.com, 973.495.0976
