Cover-Up Of Immigrant Deaths Sounds Alarm For Reform, Say La Raza

Washington, DC—Documents collected by The New York Times and the American Civil Liberties Union detailing the deaths of immigrant detainees sound the call for immediate action to reform immigrant detention standards. While NCLR (National Council of La Raza), the largest national Latino civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States, has championed legislative efforts to put an end to abusive practices in the detention system, continuing accounts of detained immigrants dying because of denial of basic health services and enduring reported physical abuse and dehumanizing torment magnify the wake-up call for the need for comprehensive immigration reform.

“It is shameful that these atrocious incidents are just now coming to light,” said NCLR President and CEO Janet Murguía. “The lack of oversight that has led to these unnecessary deaths demonstrates how urgently we need comprehensive immigration reform legislation to ensure that our enforcement tactics are in line with our nation’s values.”

The politics of demonization, dehumanization, and deportation are having dire and deadly consequences and speak to the moral imperative to address immigration effectively and humanely now.  “The American people support a comprehensive solution to immigration. The will of the people and these devastating effects of our broken immigration system should send a clear message to lawmakers that their continued inaction is morally reprehensible,” said Murguía. 

“Not one more life should be lost, not one more family should be separated because of cruel enforcement-only tactics that are ineffective and costly,” said Murguía. “It is time to restore our nation’s dignity, values, and the rule of law.”

For more information, visit www.nclr.org | http://www.facebook.com/nationalcounciloflaraza | http://www.myspace.com/nclr2008 | http://twitter.com/nclr.