November 27th, 2019
Rep. Grijalva: Eloy Detention Center Has a Long and Tragic History of Neglect
TUCSON— Today, Rep. Grijalva reacted to the release of a report by Advancement Project and Puente, two national human rights groups on the harsh conditions individuals face in the Eloy Detention Center.
“The Eloy Detention Center is plagued by a long and tragic history of neglect and this latest report by Advancement Project and Puente confirms that shameful record” said Congressman Raúl M. Grijalva. “Since 2003, there have been more than a dozen deaths. Unfortunately, many of these deaths could have been prevented had the facility acted according to law. Yet, the reality is that for-profit detention centers and private prisons are motivated by profit, not human decency. The incarceration of pregnant women, individuals with serious health needs and immigrants must stop. The federal government continues to contract with the private prison complex who acts without accountability or oversight. We must end private prisons and immigration detention centers. Congress must provide that accountability and oversight.”
Since 2015, Rep. Grijalva has introduced legislation to ban private prisons and private detention centers, private transportation, end family detention, and remove Immigration and Custom Enforcement’s (ICE) daily bed quota mandate. The Justice Is Not For Sale Act, also requires ICE to improve monitoring of detention facilities, requires ICE to use Alternatives to Detention, and increases oversight to prevent companies from overcharging inmates and their families for services like banking and telephone calls.
