The History, Practice, and Growth of Immigration Detention
In this special series, The Takeaway examines the history and practice of immigration detention, and what life is like in ICE detention centers. Explore how these facilities evolved since the '80s, and grew into the most rapidly-expanding detention network in the U.S.
Back in 2009, Congress passed a law that requires no less than 33,400 beds in immigration centers to be “active” every night. This quota costs the U.S. about $2 billion a year.
Rolando Meza Espinoza was detained by ICE in April. His lawyers say it was a case of mistaken identity, but while awaiting his release, his health deteriorated and he died on June 10th.
The federally-funded program, which helps mainly women and children, has enrolled approximately 630 families, and advocates say the initiative was largely successful.
We begin our series on immigration detention with a look at how immigration detention was born, and how it evolved into one of the largest growing areas of the U.S. prison system.
Tens of thousands of immigrants detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) were forced to work for $1.00 a day, or for nothing at all, according to a new class action lawsuit.
