ICE moves to silence detention center volunteer visitors

[brooklynite]

Source: Los Angeles Times

Immigration officials stopped allowing a volunteer group to visit people at a San Diego detention facility unless its members agreed not to talk with the news media or other groups about conditions inside.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement says that members of SOLACE, or Souls Offering Loving and Compassionate Ears, must sign the “Volunteer Code of Ethics” form to be in compliance with the agency’s detention standards. The group so far has refused, arguing that detention standards don’t require them to sign away their 1st Amendment rights in order to visit detainees.

“I think they’re circling the wagons to stop people from knowing what’s going on inside,” said volunteer Steve Gelb of Mission Valley. “It gives ICE more impunity.”

Since 2012, SOLACE volunteers have made more than 1,450 visits to at least 800 would-be immigrants at Otay Mesa. They say they try to give detainees who don’t have anyone to visit them a feeling of humanity, emotional support and hope.

Read more: http://www.latimes.com/la-me-ice-detention-center-volunteer-visitors-20181105-story.html

[RainCaster]

1. A toxic mix of Trump immigration policies and for profit prisons

Another of those awful GOP items to be made illegal after the Blue Wave completes.

[riversedge]

2. The ACLU is on it..........

.......

To David Loy, legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union in San Diego, the restrictions in the forms are “unconscionable.”

“I don’t say that kind of thing lightly,” Loy said. “This is an absolutely unconstitutional attempt to stifle speech and evade accountability.”

Loy sent a letter Thursday threatening legal action if ICE doesn’t reinstate the program.

Immigrants previously detained at Otay Mesa said visits from program volunteers were life-changing.

“It gave me hope to be free again,” said Yousra, who preferred not to give her last name because she’s still afraid of the country she fled. “They are still supporting me and being by my side to stay strong and keep on fighting.”

[iluvtennis]

3. Excellent news.

[vlyons]

4. So what's going on inside?

nt

[prudence54]

6. When we get the House

We can investigate this awfulness, along with a lot of other craptastic that TR45H has wrought in two short years!

[BigmanPigman]

5. Politicians and reporters haven't been allowed to even go inside!

They are not allowed to talk to workers (paid or volunteer). Gee, I wonder what they don't want us to see and know? This is why I donated more money to the ACLU. There are several of these centers in the San Diego area.

[TeamPooka]

7. End ICE.

[cstanleytech]

8. Sounds like the government engaged in a direct 1st amendment violation.

[BlueInRedHell]

9. "volunteer code of ethics"- So, that's the euphemism they're using for an NDA these days.

[Javaman]

10. this is a bomb waiting to go off. nt