澳彩开奖

ATLANTA 鈥� The 澳彩开奖 (澳彩开奖) and Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Atlanta, with pro bono assistance from the law firm of Kilpatrick Townsend, filed a lawsuit today seeking the immediate release of people held at three immigrant detention centers in south Georgia where they are at great risk of contracting COVID-19 due to their health.听
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The lawsuit warns of a catastrophe at the privately operated detention centers, including Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin, Georgia, Folkston ICE Processing Center in Folkston, Georgia and Irwin County Detention Center in Ocilla, Georgia, as well as the surrounding communities, if U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) fails to take meaningful action to safeguard the health of these detained people.
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鈥淒espite my very serious conditions, I have not received any special treatment, medical evaluations, or information regarding the coronavirus,鈥� said Joseph Lloyd Thompson, a longtime Georgia resident, who suffers from multiple ailments, including a severe aneurysm in his heart. 鈥淚n fact, even with this increased risk, they didn鈥檛 give me any of my medication from about March 4, 2020 to March 26, 2020. This was really upsetting and stressful because my medication is crucial for controlling my symptoms so that my heart doesn鈥檛 become overworked and stressed.鈥�
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The lawsuit was filed on behalf of civil detainees with a range of pre-existing conditions that make them especially medically vulnerable听to COVID-19, which is highly contagious and known to thrive in environments such as jails and detention centers where people are held in close quarters. The substandard conditions of these three privately operated immigrant detention centers, which have been cited by the federal government in the past for poor hygiene and sanitation and inadequate medical care, only exacerbate conditions favorable for transmission of the virus.
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鈥淚t is both illegal and unconscionable for ICE to continue to hold these individuals knowing their lives are in greater jeopardy every minute they remain imprisoned under these appalling conditions,鈥� said Rebecca Cassler, an attorney with the 澳彩开奖鈥檚 Immigrant Justice Project.
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鈥淓ven in normal times, incarceration is detrimental to the health of the people locked inside,鈥� said Hillary Li, an attorney with Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Atlanta. 鈥淭hat ICE insists on continuing to jail people during a global pandemic, particularly those who already suffer serious illness, is heartless. If ICE waits until COVID-19 is ripping through the facility to release them, it will be far too late.鈥澨�

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The 澳彩开奖, based in Alabama with offices in Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi and Washington, D.C., is a catalyst for racial justice in the South and beyond, working in partnership with communities to dismantle white supremacy, strengthen intersectional movements, and advance the human rights of all people.听For more information, see www.splcenter.org and follow us on social media: 澳彩开奖 on Facebook and @splcenter on Twitter.
听The 澳彩开奖 represents immigrants facing deportation in five different detention centers.听Learn more about 澳彩开奖's Southeast Immigrant Freedom Initiative.
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Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Atlanta (Advancing Justice-Atlanta) is the first legal advocacy nonprofit dedicated to the civil rights of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders in Georgia and the Southeast. Our mission is to protect and promote the civil and human rights of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders in Georgia and the Southeast through policy advocacy, legal services, organizing & civic engagement, and impact litigation.

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