Immigration detention centers fail to provide adequate medical care even under “normal” circumstances. Detained individuals will find it virtually impossible to engage in the social distancing and hygiene necessary to prevent and manage COVID-19, even with any best-laid plans. As staff and ICE agents go back to their homes each night, a COVID-19 outbreak would affect not just detained individuals but also the broader community.
The only responsible thing to do is reduce the number of individuals in ICE detention, starting with not transferring individuals into ICE custody in the first place.
TAKE ACTION: Call your L.A. County Supervisorand tell them to save lives and immediately stop the transfers of Angelenos into the custody of federal immigration authorities and the Adelanto immigration detention center.
Call your L.A. Supervisor.
Supervisor Hilda Solis, First District: (213) 974-4111
Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, Second District: (213) 974-2222
Supervisor Sheila Kuehl, Third District: (213) 974-3333
Supervisor Janice Hahn, Fourth District: (213) 974-4444
Supervisor Kathryn Barger, Fifth District: (213) 974-5555
Sample Script:
Hi, my name is __________, and I am your constituent.
Despite the raging COVID-19 pandemic, the sheriff has continued to hand over our fellow Angelenos to federal immigration agents, subjecting our neighbors to life-threatening conditions at the Adelanto immigration detention center. What’s more, he’s spending almost $1.5 million a year of county taxpayer resources to facilitate immigration detention and deportations. That has no place in our county — this is money that should be spent instead on defending families against deportation and combating the COVID-19 pandemic.
I am calling today to ask that you and the Board of Supervisors do two things immediately:
- Stop the destructive — and potentially deadly — practice of handing over Angelenos into the custody of federal immigration authorities. Years ago, the City of L.A. took a stand and stopped transferring Angelenos to immigration without a judicial warrant. It's time L.A. County does the same.
- Urge federal immigration authorities to suspend enforcement operations and release detained individuals in order to combat the spread of COVID-19 and protect the public health of county residents.
Thank you.
