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Arizona State University

The Cost of Immigrant Detention

Arizona’s Eloy Detention Center is the third largest immigrant detention facility in the nation. It is also one of the most notorious. Among the 32 deaths of detainees in the United States from 2003-2015, 14 perished while incarcerated at Eloy—with five of these deaths attributed to either suicide or asphyxiation. The facility offers a prime case example for understanding the human costs of the for-profit corrections industry upon immigrants, their families, and those who work within detention facility walls. Operated by the private company Corrections Corporation of America, Eloy received $64.47 per day from the federal government for each person detained in 2015. As Corrections Corporation of America strives to provide “quality corrections services, offer a compelling value, and increase occupancy and revenue,” incentives to extend sentences while reducing spending on food, staffing, and medical care contribute to the realities facing detainees each day

 

 

1994: Detention at Crossroads

The documentary “1994” reveals the history of noncitizen detention in the United States with a focus on the development of the detention regime in Arizona. Produced by States of Incarceration contributor Judith Perera, the film highlights significant policy changes as well as the reality for those subjected to it, raising broader questions about society's dependence on human caging.

Mass Story Lab

Amplifying the voices of those affected by immigrant detention. 

 

Mass Story Lab is a community story telling project making stories an instrument of justice.

 

 

Guideon

Guideon grew up in the U.S. While in detention,  he was abused mentally and physically by ICE because of his sexual orientation and because he spoke up for the rights of fellow detainees. After almost losing all hope he regained the strength to carry on through his love of God. He is now a Kindergarten teacher. 

Celeste

Celeste Andrade, 19 speaks about the experience of having a parent detained.

Denisse

During immigration incarceration, Denisse was not allowed to see her 5 U.S. citizen children, battled severance of her parental rights, and rehabbed from drugs. Denisse will share how she remained strong and successfully fought her immigration case while incarcerated.

Gretta

Soto Moreno is an asylum-seeking transgender woman who advocates for all immigrants. She will be talks about the three difficult years she was incarcerated by ICE.

Zulay

Zulay is part of the LGBTQ+ community. She fled violence in her home country alongside a family member. Her family member is still in detention. 

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