OC Community Groups Ask OC Board of Supervisors Not To Expand Immigration Detention in Orange County

For Immediate Release
May 9th, 2017
Contact:  Roberto Carlos Herrera, roberto@resilienceoc.org;

OC Community Groups Ask OC Board of Supervisors Not To Expand Immigration Detention in Orange County, Cite Worsening Conditions At County Jail

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Santa Ana, CA — This Tuesday morning, the OC Board of Supervisors are set to vote on expanding immigration detention at the Theo Lacy County Jail. Local Orange County community groups are united in not allowing an expansion of the ICE contract. Growing evidence shows the Theo Lacy facility has been in incapable of providing adequate services and care.

“There is mounting evidence the Theo Lacy facility is incapable of providing a safe, secure and respectful environment for immigrants. An expansion of the ICE contract is only overlooking these facts. If the OC Board of Supervisors moves forward with this, they are intentionally subjecting more people to life-threatening situations,” said Roberto Herrera from Resilience OC, one of the many community organizations that are going to be present at Tuesday’s vote.

Multiple reports have cited the horrendous conditions and abuse at the Theo Lacy Facility. In 2012, Detention Watch Network rated Theo Lacy as one of the ten worst immigration detention centers in the country. Just this year, the Department of Homeland Security’s own Office of Inspector General released a report detailing the SAME unacceptable conditions, including showers full of “trash, mildew, and mold” and “slimy, foul-smelling lunch meat” that appeared to be spoiled.

Orange County was and continues to be a conservative bastion, but what community groups have come to recognize is the shear strength of people power and community unity. “Now more than ever is it crucial to hold elected officials accountable in Orange County. Now more than ever is it necessary to stand up and speak out, fight back and take to the streets. Now more than ever is it crucial to resist and reject racism, xenophobia, mass incarceration, mass detention and deportation, and more than ever is it imperative we end that ICE contract,” said Roberto Herrera.

The Community Groups Include: Resilience OC, ACLU of Southern CA, Orange County Immigrant Youth United (OCIYU), Community Initiatives for Visiting Immigrants in Confinement (CIVIC), Friends of OC Detainees, The LGBT Center OC, and Detention Watch Network.

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