1. United States
2. Tenn.
3. Letter

I am writing to you as a deeply concerned and outraged constituent regarding the unlawful and inhumane detention of individuals, the silencing of free speech, and the expansion of for-profit detention centers. Non-criminals are being tortured, refused medical care, and forced into labor. Continued inaction—or worse, support for these egregious practices—enables these unconstitutional and grotesque human rights abuses. The for-profit detention industry is expanding, profiting off the suffering of individuals who have been unjustly and illegally torn from their families. Half of those detained were legally seeking asylum, and most have no serious criminal history. Detainment is not supposed to be punitive. Yet, a study released in February of 2024 states that ICE has used solitary confinement in their detention centers over 1400 times, and the average duration of confinement was 27 days, far beyond the 15-day limit defined as torture by human rights experts. Unlawfully detained prisoners are denied phone calls, preventing access to legal counsel, leaving them in legal limbo indefinitely. These detainees have no idea how long they will be imprisoned, violating fundamental human rights. The 2017 case Menocal, et al v. The GEO Group proved that ICE detention centers operate as forced labor camps. Yet, despite clear evidence of abuse, these facilities continue to operate unchecked. Government agencies, jails, and prisons continue to contract with ICE, perpetuating this cycle of abuse. This is state-sponsored kidnapping, and inaction is an endorsement of it. WE THE PEOPLE DEMAND IMMEDIATE ACTION TO END THESE ABUSES!! We expect you to take the following steps: 1) Demand the immediate release of all unlawfully detained individuals and reunite them with their families. Publicly denounce the silencing of free speech and support legislation to protect journalists, activists, asylum seekers, legal residents and citizens from persecution. 2) Legally bar governmental entities, jails, and prisons from contracting with ICE in your state. Detention is supposed to be non-punitive! 3) Push for an investigation into for-profit detention centers and work toward their permanent abolition. Introduce or support legislation that ensures no corporation or entity can profit from the imprisonment, forced labor, and torture of human beings. Demand the immediate shutdown of GEO Group and CoreCivic facilities. The systematic abuse of power cannot be allowed to continue unchecked. You either stand with human rights, or you stand with the profiteers of suffering. Your legacy will be judged accordingly. We expect a direct and immediate response detailing what actions you will take. Your silence will only confirm your allegiance to this monstrous system!!